Ms. Rie Watanabe (on violin) and Ms. Shoko Inoue (on piano) performed
the Sonata for Violin and Piano in A minor, Op.105 by Robert Schumann, and the Sonata for Piano and Violin in F major, Op. 24 (Spring Sonata) by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Classical Concert Showcases Japanese Musicians
An evening of classical music was held at the Japan Foundation, Toronto on January 18 , when the Consulate General of Japan presented A Piano and Violin Duo Concert, featuring pianist Ms. Shoko Inoue and violnist Ms. Rie Watanabe.
"Ms. Inoue and Ms. Watanabe are two of my best friends in Toronto, and are tremendously gifted performers who have been very active in the field of classical music all over the world," explained Mr. Koichi Kawakami, the Consul General of Japan in Toronto, in his opening remarks. "We are indeed very fortunate to be able to see such accomplished musicians together in such an intimate setting."
The Hon. Monte Kwinter, Ontario Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, was among the audience (pictured below right, with Consul General Kawakami).
Ms. Inoue was a prize-winner at the Cleveland International Piano Competition and at the Frinna Awerbuch Competition, and first-prize winner at the Chopin Competition in New York, where she made her Carnegie Hall debut.
Her notable appearances include a solo recital at the 9th Annual World Piano Pedagogy Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2004, a recital in Palm Beach, Florida, and several solo concerts and broadcasts at Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, including the CBC Onstage series and Music Around Us.
Ms. Inoue is active as a soloist, chamber musician and recitalist throughout Canada, the United States, Japan and Europe, known for her unique ability to draw audiences into her innermost thoughts on the music she is performing.
Ms. Watanabe was the first-prize winner in the National Competition for young artists in Mexico in 1988. She has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra member in Japan, Mexico, the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. In 2000, she was awarded the “Artist of the Year” prize for Tokushima prefecture, Japan. In 2005, she had the honour of performing for Her Majesty Empress Michiko in a concert organized by the Academia Yuriko Kuronuma.
She has worked as concertmaster of the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, and as a guest member of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra while in Illinois. Her most recent ensemble work includes concerts with the Quercus String Trio of Mexico City. Currently, she is performing as a principal second violinist of the Oshawa Durham Symphony Orchestra, and has performed and worked at the Niagara International Chamber Music Festival and with the Ergo Ensemble in Toronto.
A reception followed in celebration of a highly successful concert.
