August 2000
At some point I received in the mail a tape from a recital played by Tomoko
Takanashi at the Odense Concerthouse, a tape including one of my pieces,
"Star Prelude and Love Fugue". I put the tape on and - I quite
literally didn't believe what I heard! It was that good, and that
goes for the other Danish pieces performed by Ms. Takanashi.
Apparently Tomoko chose to go to Denmark in order to study Danish piano
music in general, Carl Nielsen in particular. Being Danish I'm of course
flattered that an artist from far-away Japan has taken such a keen interest
in the music of my country, but at the end of the day Nationality doesn't
enter the picture at all. It's musicianship that counts and Ms. Takanashi's
rendering of the programme she'd chosen proves beyond any doubt that she's
a performer second to none; flawless technique and deep musical concentration
all in the service of her art.
I'm convinced that Tomoko Takanashi is a rising star on the fiercely competitive
horizon of international piano playing.
Poul Ruders
composer |
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