Chamber evening by violist NOBUKO Imai

Program description

The works of Mozart, Bach, Kodály and Brahms, who are not necessarily remembered for their chamber music, show the most beautiful faces of chamber music. By not using other accompaniment, such as piano, the violin/viola duo gives the bass violin a very colourful role. He represents the bass and often even the middle fills by playing two parts under the violin. He also participates in the imitation, sometimes sharing the main melody with his chamber partner. The most famous works in the Baroque concerto-literature are Bach's Brandenburg concertos. Piece No 6 is perhaps the least frequently performed, although it has a rather special sound. It gives the impression of old consort music without any explicitly soloistic instrument. The composer originally employed viols, which gives the work a velvety, dark sound. Kodály dedicated his Adagio for violin and piano, composed in 1905, to the great violinist Imre Waldbauer. The composer later transcribed the work for viola and cello. The piece, with its peculiarly peaceful tone, bears elements of Kodály's early style. It draws on the tonal world of Debussy, but its germ also contains the Hungarian tone which later developed in numerous compositions. Brahms's four-movement piano quartet is also referred to as the Werther quartet, based on Goethe's epistolary novel, and is scored for piano, violin, bass violin and cello. A particular feature of the work is a motif that often appears in the first movement, reminiscent of a sigh, which is thought to be a musical pronunciation of the name Clara, and a reference to Clara Schumann. Initially Brahms had platonic feelings towards the wife of his fellow composer, but later their relationship developed into a deep friendship.

NOBUKO Imai's exceptional talent, musical integrity and charisma have made him one of the most distinguished violists of our time, both in the profession and among the general public.

Formerly a member of the highly respected Vermeer and Michelangelo String Quartets, he has combined a distinguished international career as soloist, chamber musician and teacher. He has performed with many of the world's most prestigious orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw, the London, Boston and Chicago Symphonies, among others. His chamber music collaborators include Gidon Kremer, Midori, Mischa Maisky, Yo yo Ma, András Schiff and Martha Argerich. Miss Imai's professional life has focused not only on exploring the many facets of the viola, but also on sharing her experience and bringing it to audiences. This conscientious work is reflected, for example, in the annual Viola Space project, the Hindemith Festivals series (1995/1996), and the Tokyo International Viola Competition, the first international competition exclusively for viola in Asia. He has made more than 40 recordings with Bis, Chandos, Philips and Sony, among others. He is currently professor at the Amsterdam Conservatory, the Kronberg Academy and the Queen Sofia Conservatory of Music in Madrid. He is also Professor at Ueno Gakuen University in Tokyo and Visiting Professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

They contribute to:

Liszt Prize-winning pianist Márta GULYÁS
Vilmos SZABADI Liszt Prize-winning violinist, Artist of Merit
Violist Emil LUDMÁNY
TOMASZ Máté cellist
SZTANKOV Iván, cellist
Nóra PAPP viola student
Mária EGYHÁZI viola student

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Interview with Nobuko Imai (Pannon Television)