Hiroshi Koizumi Flute Concert (English) / Concert Hall ATM, ART TOWER MITO

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Hiroshi Koizumi Flute Concert -- Let's Enjoy Contemporary Music XIV
(Planned, Organized and Directed by Shin-ichiro Ikebe)

The fact that Hiroshi Koizumi is appearing in the "Let's Enjoy Contemporary Music" series only now for the very first time places my convictions, as the series' planner, into doubt. For not only has Koizumi given ten concerts since 1994 of postwar Japanese flute music, but he has also put out a two-CD album, "Umi e (Towards the Sea)" Various Phases of Contemporary Japanese Flute Music, published a revolutionary book, "Modern Flute Performance Techniques," and has won countless awards. He is one person who must absolutely not be forgotten when discussing Japanese contemporary music from a performance standpoint. Such are my objective and dispassionate words as the planner of this series.

Looking at it from a different angle, both Koizumi and myself were actually classmates together at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. I've listened to him play the flute for 36 years now. Besides the field of contemporary music, he has always occupied a central position in many of the pieces I've composed for movies, plays and television. He is one of my closest friends in music, as a drinking buddy, and when talking about baseball. Such are my words of delight as his friend.

Koizumi and I had held many discussions about this concert before deciding on the program. The pieces we selected were the ones we thought the best (that's putting pressure on my new piece composed for him!). With such wonderful co-performers as Yasunori Yamaguchi and Norio Sato, this concert is the first in a long time that truly lets you hear music speaking to the essence of this series. I'm already getting excited thinking about it.

Shin-ichiro Ikebe

Hiroshi Koizumi Flute Concert -- Let's Enjoy Contemporary Music XIV
Hiroshi Koizumi (flute), Norio Sato (guitar), Yasunori Yamaguchi (percussion)
Oct. 12, 1999 (Sat) 6:30 p.m. (Seating starts at 6:00 p.m.)
Concert Hall ATM
A \3,000 B \2,000 (All seats reserved.) Tickets already on sale.

Program:
Shin-ichiro Ikebe: Strata II
Toru Takemitsu: Umi e (Towards the Sea)
Yuzuru Kondo: Standing
Norio Fukushi: Yoru wa shikon-iro ni akete (Night Ended in Bluish Purple Daylight)
Yoriaki Matsudaira: Verse for Gazzelloni
Shin-ichiro Ikebe: Yet-unnamed New Work for Flute, Guitar and Percussion (Commissioned by ATM, World Debut)

Profiles of Performers:

Hiroshi Koizumi (flute)

Born in 1944 in the city of Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture. Graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 1967, getting a graduate degree from the same school in 1959. Formed "Sound Space Arc" in 1972. Until its dissolution in 1990, that group performed concerts worldwide, including such venues as the Paris Autumn Festival, the London Almeda Festival, the New York Festival, and the Belgium Europaria '89.

In Japan, Koizumi has appeared regularly in such annual events as the Modern Music Exhibition and MUSIC TODAY. Starting in October 1994, he gave ten concerts in the "Contemporary Japanese Flute Music Series." As one of Japan's premier contemporary musicians, he has performed numerous debut works. His performances span most of Japan's major orchestras, having appeared as soloist with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, the New Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the Nagoya Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the Ensemble Kanazawa, the Kyoto City Symphony Orchestra, the Osaka Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra, and so forth.

Koizumi has also won such awards as the 1st Kenzo Nakajima Music Prize (1983), the 7th Japan Gold Disc Prize (1993), the 2nd Asahi Contemporary Music Prize (1993), the 9th Japan Gold Disc Prize (1995), and the 15th Kenzo Nakajima Music Prize (1997). His CD, "Umi e" (Nippon Shott), won the 1997 Record Academy Prize. He has also written a book entitled, "Contemporary Performance Techniques for Flute."

Koizumi serves as an instructor at both the Fukui Jin-ai Women's Junior College and the Toho Gakuen School of Music Junior College.

Norio Sato (guitar)

Born in 1951, Sato studied guitar under Yasumasa Obara. In 1971, he placed first in what is now known as the Tokyo International Guitar Competition. Starting with his "Music in Museum" recital given at the Seibu (later Sezon) Museum in 1979, he has given many performances both in Japan and abroad, concentrating on contemporary music. He has put out several solo records, including "Norio Sato Plays Takahashi and Kondo," "12 Songs (arranged by Toru Takemitsu," and "Kota" on the ALM Record label, as well as "MUSIC TODAY SELECTION." He has also served as conductor on such records as "Yokohama: Collection of Works by Yuzuru Kondo" (ALM Record) and "Night Ended in Bluish Purple Daylight: Collection of Chamber Works by Norio Fukushi" (Camerata Tokyo). He has won the 5th Kyoto Music Prize (Practical Division) in 1990, the 12th Kenzo Nakajima Music Prize in 1994, and the 5th Asahi Contemporary Music Prize in 1996. He formed the Ensemble Nomad in 1997, and serves as artistic director. Starting this year, he plans to give five regular performances annually at Tokyo Opera City.

Yasunori Yamaguchi (percussion)

After graduating from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Yamaguchi furthered his studies in the West. In 1966, he drew attention by giving a solo percussion recital. In the decade following 1972, he belonged to the New Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. In 1972, he joined the pianist Aki Takahashi and the flutist Hiroshi Koizumi to form "Sound Space Arc," a group performing contemporary music. In 1983, he won the 1st Kenzo Nakajima Music Prize. The same year, he gave a solo recital in the 11th MUSIC TODAY series planned by Toru Takemitsu. In 1993, at the Berlin Arts Week, he performed in the world debut of Maki Ishii's concerto for percussion, "Saidoki," which was conducted by Ishii as well. His performance schedule is very busy in Japan and elsewhere, including appearances major music festivals such as the Warsaw Autumn and the Paris Autumn Festival, as well as in London, Avignon, Vienna, Tanglewood, and the New York Lincoln Center. He put out a solo CD in 1992 called "Illusion," under the Eiolos label. Yamaguchi serves as a part-time instructor at the Doshisha College for Women.

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