Young Artists at May 4 Concert: The Young Artists did a stunning job and received big applause.

PRESS REVIEW MAY 4, 2008

A MAGNIFICENT INAUGURAL CONCERT INTRODUCES THE EXCITEMENT OF
PIANO DUO MUSIC TO THE SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY

The first Young Artists' Piano Duo Concert, presented by the Kurosawa Piano Music Foundation, Sunday afternoon, May 4, at Tateuchi Hall (CSMA) in Mountain View, showcased eleven young piano duo teams of ages 9 to 18, in an afternoon of outstanding performances, as inspiring as they were masterful.

Foundation President Alex Kurosawa opened the event by introducing the Board of Directors, Catherine Angelo, John Fukasawa, James Reber, Yoko Kurosawa, Artistic advisor Yumi Tayama and Artistic Advisor Dr. Sondra Clark.

Catherine Angelo, of the noted Angelo Piano Duo, provided program notes and introductory remarks about the tradition of ensemble piano playing. She also noted the unusual order of the program, which first presented music of the twenty-first century and proceeded in reverse chronology, climaxing with one of the crowning achievements of duo-pianism, Mozart's incomparable Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major.

Opening the program, Natalie and Andrew Li gave an enchantingly musical performance of "Key Lime Sunset," by Bay Area composer, Sondra Clark.

The near capacity crowd, pleasantly lulled by the fading rays of the first piece, were then catapulted into the power and dissonance of Witold Lutoslawski's "Variations on a Theme by Paganini," in a sparkling performance by John Kabiling and Andre Garrett. These able, experienced partners brought to the music both a reflective beauty and scampering technique, culminating in a blazing finish.

On the heels of the mighty Lutoslawski "Variations," came an even more monumental musical treasure, George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" for two pianos. Leslie Chang and Cherise Lau swept into the opening with a competance that was steadily confirmed in long, driving passages of technical demands, proving them equal to the immense challenges of this beloved masterpiece.

Following two such musical Goliaths, it was both refreshing and endearing to hear Georgy Sviridov's "Waltz," played by the delightful team of Elanne and Eddy Liu, Surely there has never been a more perfect embodiment of the waltz than that which was captured by these two young people, in a performance that was truly a lilting, throbbing invitation to dance.

From light to heavy, the powerful sound of Rachmaninoff's "Slava" followed, ably played by Vincent Chu and Hiro Nakae, who achieved a technical tour de force while majestically evoking the sounds of bells.

Bringing the first half of the concert to a light-hearted end, Jove and Titan Yuan gave a thoroughly delightful performance of Rachmaninoff's "Polka Italienne" that revealed the 9-year-old twins' talent for injecting their music with a sense of fun and a hint of mischief.

Following intermission, the program presented three treats from the Romantic period, the first being selections from the "Six Pieces Enfantines" by Anton Arensky, played by Ayano Watanabe and Aoi Shoda. This team proved well-matched in tone and rhythmically in synch in both the soaring "Waltz" and the declamatory "Fugue."

Tchaikovsky's lovely "Sleeping Beauty" excerpt for four hands showed the team of Ayako and Yuiko Ohoka to be technically superb, while always achieving a fine balance between beauty and power.

Three pieces from Georges Bizet's "Jeux D'Enfants" followed. Ryota Watanabe and Hiro Nakae did themselves credit in this enduring favorite among duo-pianists, ending with a bouncy, light-hearted flourish in the "Galop."

For the concert's finale, celebrating the classical period, the first piece was the Overture for Two Pianos from Mozart's "The Magic Flute." From the work's stately opening announcement to its blazing ending, Osker Lu and Jason Jin played brilliantly, like two thoroughbreds, who were off to the races and could easily handle the pace.

In a welcome return to the stage, Elaine and Eddy Liu offered J.C. Bach's "Rondo in G Major," again with an animated performance that blended precision with musicality.

The honor of bringing the concert to its stellar conclusion with the Mozart "Sonata for Two Pianos" fell to Namiko Sakaguchi and Yuiko Ohoka. For this duo-piano devotee, there is no music more joyful than this sunny, supreme two-piano gem played with taste and exuberance by a team who have mastered the masterpiece. The Sakaguchi-Ohoka Duo have achieved this mastery, and it was the perfect ending to an astonishingly spectacular concert.

Sondra Clark
Free-lance Critic, Retired
Palo Alto Times, Peninsula Tribune
San Francisco Newspapers
Oakland Tribune

The attendance was approximately 160 people, including parents, teachers, performers, composers, volunteers, sponsors, donors, friends, and staff.

A goal of the Kurosawa Piano Music Foundation is to inspire the young pianists and the community to discover and explore the rich and varied repertoire of piano duo ensemble music, and to form serious duos with a commitment to develop the skills particular to the genre and be trained for teamwork accomplishments through ensemble performances.

Participation for young artists and audience was free of charge as a contribution to the community by the Kurosawa Piano Music Foundation. Donations are welcome because they are the resource to run this program on a regular basis and more frequently.

Second Young Artists' Piano Duo Concert (July 3, 2008)

We have been working with Bay Area piano teachers and music schools to encourage their piano students to form musical partnerships and study the art of two-piano and piano duet playing. As the next step, we will invite world-class piano duos from Europe and Japan during July 2 and 3, 2008. They will provide 2-days intensive educational sessions including master classes, workshops, and private coaching. The community in Silicon Valley will have an opportunity to attend the Gala International Piano Duo Concert on July 2 as well as the 2nd Young Artists' Piano Duo Concert on July 3.

The deadline for applications for July 3 Young Artists' Piano Duo Concert is June 4. Auditions will be held around the middle of June. For more information, please contact us.