Ikuyo Nakamichi
Ikuyo Nakamichi began studying the piano at the age of four under Mitsuko Kinpara. At 12, she went on to continue her studies with Phyllis Rappaport in the state of Michigan, U.S.A. In 1982, she entered Japan’s top music school, Toho Gakuen School of Music, to study under Kazuhiko Nakajima.
Nakamichi took the top prizes at the 1986 Geneva International Music Competition and the 1987 Mendelssohn Competition in Berlin and fifth prize at the Concours Musical International Reine Elisabeth de Belgique in 1987.
With a broad repertory ranging from Classicc to Romantics, Nakamichi has performed with Japan’s leading orchestras and many other European and American orchestras.
In chamber music field, Nakamichi also enjoys collaboration with renowned chamber ensembles like Berlin Brandis String Quartet, the Cherubini String Quartet and the Berlin Philharmonic Octet. Her duo performances with clarinetist Richard Stoltzman and violinist Josef Suk have won great critical acclaim.
Beginning in 1994 she began a five-year Bach-Beethoven-Brahms series, performing major keyboard works by these three composers.
A series of mini-concerts for children inaugurated in the fall of 2000, have won her another reputation for innovative approaches in bringing the joy of music to wider audiences. Using a collection of piano pieces composed by the Paris-based Japanese composer Karen Tanaka, these concerts, entitled “The Zoo in the Sky” named after Tanaka�s pieces, have excited children’s interest by using slides and story-telling in addition to Nakamichi’s piano playing.
Ikuyo Nakamichi has been also active as a recording artist, and so far recorded 15 CDs on RCA Red Seal under exclusive contract with BMG Funhouse Japan.
The artist will perform the following program:
- L. Beethoven – Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, “Moonlight”
- L. Beethoven – Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, “Appassionata”
Intermission
- Toru Takemitsu – Rain Tree Sketch II
- F. Chopin -Nocturne in C-sharp minor
- F. Chopin -Ballade No. 1 in G minor Op. 23
- F. Chopin -Ballade No. 4 in F minor Op. 52
- F. Liszt -”Liebestraume” S.541
- F. Liszt -Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Vladimir Ovchinnikov
Akiko Ebi
Antti Siirala
Nelson Freire