Special eventFriday 11 October 2013
7:00pm – 8:00pm
Music from Baroque Europe: Played by Taro Takeuchi with Kaori Katayama
Drinks reception: 12:00am – 12:00am
13/14 Cornwall Terrace, Outer Circle (entrance facing Regent's Park), London NW1 4QP
Organised by the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation
In this concert respected early guitar/lute player Taro Takeuchi performed some of the finest pieces from continental Europe from the Baroque period. The concert included pieces by Robert de Visée, Georg Phillip Telamann, Girolamo Kapsberger and others. Taro Takeuchi uses antique guitars from the 18th century as well as a faithful modern copy of an original 17th century lute. He was joined by Kaori Katayama, a prize-winning musician from Kobe who is currently studying the baroque oboe.
In the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the lute and the guitar ruled as king and queen of musical instruments. The lute gained popularity in Europe during the Middle Ages and soon took on an important role in music making. In the 16th and early 17th century in Britain, the lute was much loved by nobles such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. The Baroque guitar came to Britain in the 17th century from France. Charles II and Samuel Pepys were great lovers of the guitar. The English guitar was invented in Britain in the middle of the 18th century and instantly became popular among citizens.
About the contributors
Taro Takeuchi
Taro Takeuchi was born in Kyoto, Japan. After completing his degrees in law and music in Tokyo, he studied early music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He now lives in London and he has been in great demand as a soloist and ensemble player. Taro has toured most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, the USA and Japan. As a continuo player he has worked with The English Concert, The Royal Opera House, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Berlin Philharmonic, as well as Sir Simon Rattle, Rachel Podger and Nigel Kennedy. He has made numerous recordings for Deux-Elles, EMI, Hyperion Records, Harmonia Mundi, the BBC and others. His solo recordings Folias!, The Century That Shaped the Guitar and Affectuoso: Virtuoso Guitar Music from the 18th Century were received with critical acclaim and high praise.
Kaori Katayama
Kaori Katayama was born in Takarazuka, Kobe. She studied the oboe at Osaka Music College and has won several prizes in Japan. She became interested in historical performance and is currently studying baroque oboe at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague.