Classical
and Contemporary
Chinese, Japanese, and Canadian Music
Trio
with
LIU FANG, pipa and zheng
YEGOR DIACHKOV, cello
and
their special guest
YOSHIO KURAHASHI, Japanese Shakuhachi
A
Brief History of the trio
Canada has been a grand
stage for a cross-over of various traditions and cultures from all over the
world, which is now part of what makes the Canadian culture. This trend attracts
world class artists to pursue their career in Canada. The Montreal-based pipa
virtuoso, LIU FANG and the world-renowned cellist, YEGOR DYACHKOV, are but
a few examples of those great talents who have chosen Canada as their home
to pursue an international career. Liu Fang and Yegor Dyachkov collaborated
for the first time at the Vancouver Chamber Music Festival on July 28, 1999
when they premiered a piece entitled "Rush" for pipa and string quartet, composed
by the renowned Canadian composer Melissa Hui. It was recorded by CBC Radio
and broadcasted across Canada.
For the Year 2000, Liu
Fang and Yegor Dyachkov are very pleased to invite a great Japanese Shakuhachi
Master, Mr. Yashio Kurahashi, to Canada for a series of concerts in three
cities: Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal.
The repertoire of the
trio will consist of Chinese and Japanese classical and traditional pieces
adapted for these three instruments, as well as contemporary pieces specifically
composed for these instruments.
Liu
Fang
"Liu Fang is a remarkable
virtuoso of the pipa, a Chinese lute. She plays with a grace that captures
the soul of the Pipa possessing such profound presence she becomes, the instrument.
Amongst her many international concerts as a featured classical soloist is
a command performance for the Queen at the age of eleven. With a consistent
technical prowess and range of unimaginable dynamics, she can take you from
a visceral frenzy to a deep breath of silence that cleanses the spirit. An
extraordinary player as well, of the Goo Zheng, a Chinese piano, Liu Fang
mesmerizes you with her delicate fingers that appear to prance, playing with
an ease that is undoubtedly a result of years of intense training and keen
discipline. This artist continues to astound and bewilder her public. Liu
Fang's playing is an inspirational experience not to be missed!"
- Janet Lumb, artistic director, Montreal Asian Heritage Festival.
Updated information about
Liu Fang: http://www.liufangmusic.net/
Yegor
Dyachkov
Whether offering "a most
beautiful romantic interpretation" (Le Soleil, Quebec), captivating audiences
with his "silky round tone" (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), or bringing
"music to the point of incandescence" (Le Devoir, Montreal), Yegor Dyachkov's
artistic profile is characterized by a uniquely beautiful sound, an intensity
and richness of playing, a remarkable maturity of musicianship, and a diversity
of repertoire.
Born in Moscow in 1974,
his principal musical mentors have been Aleksandr Fedorchenko in Moscow, Yuli
Turovsky in Montreal and Boris Pergamenschikow in Cologne. An impressive recitalist,
orchestral soloist, and chamber musician, Yegor Dyachkov participates in a
wide array of festivals such as those in Kronberg, Évian and Vancouver. His
concert schedule also includes invitations from such noted orchestras as I
Musici de Montreal, the Geneva Chamber Orchestra and the Montreal Symphony
Orchestra. The breadth of his musical commitment extends also to teaching
where in master classes he is a persuasive, articulate and enthusiastic presence.
Winning the Orford International
Competition led to an invitation from the Chandos label to record his debut
CD featuring Glazunov's Concerto Ballata. His recordings can also be found
on the Brioso and Pelleas labels. Yegor Dyachkov tours internationally on
a regular basis, and his performances are broadcast and televised the world
over. (Updated information: http://www.yegordyachkov.com/)
Yoshio
Kurahashi
Yoshio Kurahashi, one
of the great living master of Japanese shakuhachi, is the son of a great shabuhachi
master, Yodo Kurahashi, founder of the Mujuan Shabuhachi School, in Kyoto.
In 1976, he gave his first recital and win the Grand Price of the Osaka Cultural
Festival. In 1981, he gave his first concert abroad in New York. Since then,
he has been pursuing an international carreer which brought him in Malaysia,
China, Israel, Thailand, Singapore and the United States. Sicne 1989, he visits
twice a year the United States to teach and to give concerts. In 1989, he
becomes the president of the Kyoto Sankyoku Association as well as the director
of the Kyoto Hogaku Ensemble, both groups devoting themselves to the promotion
of Japanese classical music. On many occasions, he did the World Premiere
of new works. His first CD was launched in 1990. This tour brings him in Canada
for the first time. (updated information: http://www.newfinearts.com/artists/yoshio.html)
