Michael Gambon, known to many film and Harry Potter fans as Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster in the Harry Potter films, died at the end of September at the age of 82. Originally a theatre actor, Michael Gambon became interested in chess after appearing in Samuel Beckett's "Endgame" and played regularly with Jason Kouchak during a joint film project. Jason Kouchak bids farewell with a song.
The French composer and pianist Jason Kouchak is an enthusiastic amateur chess player with considerable playing strength. He has taken part in various Opens, including the Open in Gibraltar in 2009, where he met a famous contemporary.
The Queen of England celebrated her Platinum Jubilee this year: she has been Queen of England for 70 years. Musician Jason Kouchak took this event as an opportunity to celebrate chess and the “Queens of Chess”, together with his friend Pattie Boyd, who was muse and queen for both Eric Clapton and George Harrison.
Today is International Women's Day, also in chess. The first strong female chess champion was Vera Menchik. José Raul Capablanca, who died 80 years ago today, on 8 March 1942, was one of many strong players who respected her. Vera Menchik died 26 June 1944 during a German V-1 flying bomb attack on London during World War II. Now it's war again. "Love is more important than victory", says musician Jason Kouchak and is currently writing a musical about Vera Menchik.
On Christmas Day, the James Webb Telescope began its long journey into space, as it is expected to provide new insights into the early history of the universe. The infinite expanses have inspired many artists. Music, the stars and chess are magically connected says Jason Kouchak. | Photo: “Starlight” by Julian Paix