AZG Armenian Daily #119, 29/06/2005
Culture
FAMOUS TOKYO QUARTET TO PERFORM IN YEREVAN
The remarkable ensemble of Eastern and Western musicians, as the Tokyo
string Quartet is, will perform at Aram Khachatrian Music Hall on
July 1. The concert repertoire will include works of Johannes Brahms,
Maurice Ravel and Hikaru Hayashi.
Formed at the American Julliard School of Music 35 years ago by 4
Japanese musicians, the quartet has undergone considerable changes
since. Canada-born Armenian Peter Oundjian has been the first violinist
of Tokyo for 15 years but had to trade his position at the band for
Toronto’s chief conductor after injuring his hand.
This single Yerevan concert of Tokyo quartet (Kikuei Ikeda – violin,
Kazuhide Isomura – viola, Sadao Harada – cello) is a huge event
for the CIS not only because it’s the first concert in post-Soviet
territory but also for the fact that the musicians will perform
with 4 instruments made by famous Italian master Stradivarius and
played by Nicolo Paganini. Japanese Nippon Music Foundation bought
the instruments (violins dated 1680 and 1727, viola – 1731, cello –
1736) from Washington’s Corcoran exhibition hall where they rested
and handed to Tokyo quartet in 1995.
The organizer of this unique concert is the Prospects of 21st Century
international music festival, which has invited many eminent musicians
during 5 years of its activity. 4 of 7 world’s famous quartets –
Borodin, Chilingirian, Kronos and Tokyo – have already been to Armenia.
The visit of the Tokyo quartet is largely due to the efforts
president of the festival composer Stepan Rostomian and manager Sona
Hovhannisian. “A nation that created Narekatsi and Komitas cannot
descend to the level of a folklore country. We have great folklore
but we are a cultural country and should keep this title”, Rostomian
said. Stepan Rostomian recalled David Harrington, first violin
of Kronos quartet, admired by Geghard and saying in an interview,
“I did not sleep whole night, your country is a holy country, your
music is a holy music. I am going to record Komitas in Geghard”.
Among other sponsors of the concert are VIVA Cell mobile
operator, Great Wheel Company, the Austrian Airlines and Colde
Tulip. Informational support by Printinfo Publishing House, Armenia
TV and daily Azg.
By Melania Badalian