with Yuina Takamizo (saxophone) and Toko Furuta (piano)
In the 1840s, a new instrument was invented in Belgium by Adolphe Sax, which aroused the interest of many composers. Nevertheless, only a few works were composed for this instrument at the time. It was not until the 20th century that the saxophone was used in jazz music. But classical composers, such as Paul Hindemith, also discovered the saxophone for themselves.
The works in the "Sax 'n' Klassik" concert explore the eras of German Romanticism, French Impressionism and Japanese Modernism with a soft and dynamic sound on saxophone and piano. This musical journey is cheerful, sometimes sounds a little nostalgic and touches the listener emotionally. The duo's concerts are characterized by great virtuosity and strong expression.
The Brussels saxophonist Yuina Takamizo and the Parisian pianist Toko Furuta met at a music festival in France, where they performed together last year.
Program
- Lili Boulanger, D'un matin de printemps
- Clara Schumann, Three Romances op.22
- Jenni Watson, One Sky
(intermission)
- Ryota Ishikawa, Rhapsody on Japanese Folk Songs
- Franz Schubert, Arpeggione Sonata
Yuina Takamizo, saxophone
born in Akita, Japan, has lived in Brussels since 2013. In 2017, she completed her master's degree with honors at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels, where she was a student of Alain Crepin and Simon Diricq. She offers a varied program that includes both original works and arrangements for saxophone and piano by composers from the 19th to 21st centuries. The success of her thesis on "Women in Contemporary Music" prompted her to expand her repertoire to include works by women. She regularly performs in cultural programs dedicated to the work of women composers in various countries such as Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Germany.
She has been an assistant professor at the Royal Conservatory of Mons since 2012.
Toko Furuta, piano
born in Osaka, Japan, now lives in Paris.
She has a broad repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary music. She also studied harpsichord with Françoise Marmin and Jeanne Jourquin, specializing in music of the late 16th and 17th centuries. She regularly gives chamber music concerts, particularly as a violin and piano duo. She was accepted to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et Danse de Paris in 2020. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Emmanuel Strosser's class in 2023. This year she will complete her master's degree with Florent Boffard.
