MUSIC IN STYLE Shu Iwasaki series vol.42 [Tokyo]

Program

Dvorak: Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major, op.81 B.155
Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor op.34

Profile

Shu Iwasaki (Iwasaki Shuku/piano)
Born in Kurashiki City. Studied under Akiko Iguchi, Motonari Iguchi, J. Lataina, A. Benedetti Michelangeli, S. Lorenzi, and I. Freundrich at Toho Gakuen University, Hartford University, Juilliard School, and Chigiana School of Music. In 1967, he won the 3rd prize in the duo section of the Munich International Music Competition. Received the Best Accompanist Award at the 1968 Budapest and 1970 Tchaikovsky International Music Competitions. Since then, he has performed and recorded many recordings with famous musicians such as J. Starker, P. Tortelier, P. L. Graf, I. Perlman, A. Navarra, I. Gitlis, U. Ughi, M. Maisky, and M. Gendron. Since 1976, he has presided over "Shu Iwasaki Music in Style". Received the 44th Art Festival Award in 1989. For 18 years from 1979, he planned and held the "Okinawa Moon Beach Music Camp & Festival" and the "Okinawa International Music Festival" from 1997 with his younger brother Ko Iwasaki.
Currently, he serves as a jury member at the Italian Valsesium Musica and the Cantu International Music Competition, and as the head of the jury at the Takamatsu International Piano Competition. In addition to being a professor at Toho Gakuen Graduate School until March 2008, she has also served as a visiting professor at Shobi Gakuen University, Mukogawa Women's University, and Kurashiki Sakuyo College of Music. His publications include "If there is music" (co-authored by Ko Iwasaki/Kibito Publishing), "Ensemble's Joy", "Pianist's Basic Exercise Book", and "Rakuko no Shunkan" (latest publication in December 2017). , published by Shunjusha). In 2005, he received the Fukutake Cultural Award, and in 1999, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Norway. In January 2014, he received the 24th Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Music Award Special Award, the 26th Music Pen Club Music Award Classical Category Special Award in February of the same year, and the 76th Sanyo Shimbun Award [Cultural Contribution] in January 2018. Awarded. Advisor of the Kurashiki City Cultural Promotion Foundation. He presides over the chamber music group Caro Rosa. Chairman of the Japan Grieg Association, Chairman of the International Music Festival Young Prague Japan Executive Committee.

Japan String Quartet
Yoko Kubo (first violin)
Midori Kugota (2nd violin)
Junji Suganuma (viola) = change of performer Sakura Kawaguchi
Kou Iwasaki (cello)

In 1994, the Kubo Quartet toured France and the Middle East as part of the Japan Foundation's dispatch program to introduce Japanese culture, and was well received in each region. Based on this result, he formed the "Japan String Quartet" in 1995. With the goal of performing all of Beethoven's string quartets, the quartet has devoted itself to study, and has attracted the attention of many chamber music fans, including regular performances at Tsuda Hall in Tokyo for a total of six times over three years from 1995, which were broadcast on NHK. Ta. In 2000, he began to challenge himself to perform the entire string quartet with the aim of discovering new aspects of Beethoven's charm. With this activity as the main axis, he continues his ambitious activities, such as working on masterpieces of string quartets by other composers.