Piano Duo DUOR delighted the audience with polar favorites at their recent concert “Love & Hope” held at the Singapore Conference Hall on 13th August 2023. The concert was a special treat that featured pieces for four hands – a rarity these days with pianists Takashi Fujii and Yoshie Shiramizu each playing on a C. Bechstein D282.
The concert hall was well-filled, with many seats taken by young students who were engaged and enthralled with the evening’s program. The duo played popular tunes and short pieces, having designed the programme for young students to enjoy. The program featured a range of masterpieces from the Romantic period (with works by Grieg and Chopin) to the early Contemporary period (with works by Rachmaninov) – some of which a few of us may remember from old cartoons back when classical music was a go-to accompanying soundtrack of our childhoods! (who remembers watching Bugs Bunny play Chopin’s “Valse du Petit Chien”?)
The pieces included a Singapore premiere of late Japanese contemporary composer Akira Miyoshi’s Cahier Sonore (Handbook of Notes), a Neo-Baroque suite comprised of short dance movements similar to Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, or Debussy’s Petit Suite with sprinklings of gentle dissonances and jazzy harmonies, and a two pianos arrangement by American composer John Musto for Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story – a much beloved musical adapted into film in 1961, which recently got a fresh film adaptation in 2021 directed by Steven Spielberg.
“Love & Hope” was a unique treat in that it was the first time two C.Bechstein D282 concert Grand Pianos were featured on stage.
After the show DUOR had a great time interacting with audience members of all ages at the meet and greet session held at the Singapore Conference Hall Zhong Foyer.
With their passion, imagination and infectious energy showing through their performance, “Love & Hope” was truly a fun and exhilarating experience for everyone. We certainly hope to see more of DUOR in Singapore in the near future!
About the Artistes
Formed in 2004 in Germany, Pianoduo DUOR consists of Japanese pianists Takashi Fujii and Yoshie Shiramizu. Both pianists began their musical education in Japan, before pursuing further studies in Germany.
Pianoduo DUOR has received countless international awards and widespread attention, performing at over 850 stages globally. Their sixth album, “GOLDBERG-VARIATIONEN FÜR 2 KLAVIERE” was also widely recognised with several award nominations.
Besides performing, Yoshie & Takashi are dedicated to training the next generation of piano duos, conducting music seminars and lectures for Japanese university students. Currently, they are faculty members at top Japanese musical colleges, including Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.
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