 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
One of the most sought-after pianists of his generation, JON NAKAMATSU is a frequent concerto soloist, chamber musician, recording artist and solo recitalist throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. He enjoys a continuously expanding career based on a deeply probing and illuminating musicality as well as a quietly charismatic performing style. Highlights of Jon Nakamatsu’s current season include return engagements with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Annapolis, Bozeman and Greenwich symphony orchestras, Lexington and Reno philharmonics and Santa Fe Pro Musica, as well as performances with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic and the orchestras of Cape Cod, Florida West Coast, Fremont, La Crosse, Lincoln and Norwalk. He reunites with his colleagues of the Berlin Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet for performances in Berlin and Detroit, and is presented in recital from coast to coast. With his duo-recital partner, clarinetist Jon Manasse, Mr. Nakamatsu performs at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and in New York City, Boston, Des Moines and Saratoga, CA. Summer 2008 includes recitals at the Interlochen Center for the Arts and Portland Piano International, performances in Beijing and Shanghai with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra, returns to California’s famed Midsummer Mozart Festival and the Edgar M. Bronfman Chamber Music Series of the Sun Valley Summer Symphony and collaborations at the Colorado College Summer Music Festival and Canandaigua Lake and Santa Fe chamber music festivals. Initially brought to global attention in June 1997 by being named Gold Medalist of the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Jon Nakamatsu subsequently appeared as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl and the Boston Pops at Tanglewood, as well as with, among many others, the orchestras of Buffalo, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Dayton, Delaware, Detroit, Fort Worth, Honolulu, Memphis, Milwaukee, Naples, New Mexico, New World, Portland, Rochester, San Antonio, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Syracuse, Toledo and Utah. Abroad, he has been heard as soloist with Italy’s famed Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Berlin’s Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Chamber Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Costa Rica, Orquestra Sinfónica Nacional de Santo Domingo and Japan’s Tokyo and Hiroshima Symphony Orchestras. In 2005, he toured Spain as soloist with the San Jose Youth Symphony, followed by a 2007 tour with the Peninsula Youth Symphony that included performances in Budapest and Prague. Mr. Nakamatsu has collaborated with many of today's leading conductors, among them Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Peter Bay, William Boughton, George Cleve, James Conlon, Grant Cooper, Leslie B. Dunner, Philippe Entremont, Neal Gittleman, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Marek Janowski, Chosei Komatsu, Michael Lankester, Peter Leonard, Raymond Leppard, Jahja Ling, Keith Lockhart, David Lockington, Christof Perick, Larry Rachleff, Peter Rubardt, Matthew Savery, Alfred Savia, Carl St. Clair, Christopher Seaman, Stanislaw Skrowaczeski, Markand Thakar, Michael Tilson Thomas, Osmo Vänskä, David Wiley, Peter Stafford Wilson and Samuel Wong. His 1998-99 season was highlighted by a White House performance of Rhapsody in Blue, hosted by President and Mrs. Clinton. Jon Nakamatsu's extensive recital tours throughout the United States and Europe have featured performances in New York City (Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall), Washington, DC (John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts), Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Miami, Houston, San Francisco, Paris, London and Milan. The recipient of the Steven De Groote Memorial Award for his semifinal round chamber music performances at the Cliburn competition, he has subsequently collaborated with various chamber ensembles, among them the Brentano, Ives, Manhattan, Miami, St. Lawrence, Prazak, Tokyo and Ying String Quartets and the Stanford Woodwind Quintet. Mr. Nakamatsu has also made three United States tours as the guest soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet. Jon Nakamatsu’s festival appearances include Tanglewood, the famed summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival with Christopher Seaman and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also been a guest artist at France's Evian and Montpellier music festivals and Germany’s Klavier Festival Ruhr, Festival Casals de Puerto Rico, performing with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Carl St. Clair, and at the Colorado Music Festival, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Florida’s Brevard and Sanibel music festivals, Tacoma International Music Festival, Lincoln’s Meadowlark Music Festival, New York’s Skaneateles Festival and California’s Midsummer Mozart Festival. Named Debut Artist of the Year (1998) by NPR's "Performance Today," Jon Nakamatsu has been profiled by "CBS Sunday Morning" and Reader's Digest magazine, and is featured in "Playing with Fire," a documentary on the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, aired nationwide on PBS. Earlier, in 1995, he was named the First Prize winner of Miami’s Fifth United States Chopin Piano Competition. He records exclusively for harmonia mundi usa, which has released seven CDs, including an orchestral album containing performances of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, with Christopher Seaman and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as albums devoted to the music of Brahms, Chopin, Foss, Liszt and Wölfl. Mr. Nakamatsu’s most recent releases are his second orchestral album with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring Gershwin’s Concerto in F and Rhapsody in Blue, conducted by Jeff Tyzik, and his first CD with clarinetist Jon Manasse, a recording of the Brahms Clarinet Sonatas. Jon Nakamatsu has studied privately with Marina Derryberry since the age of six, has worked with Karl Ulrich Schnabel, and studied composition and orchestration with Dr. Leonard Stein of the Schoenberg Institute at the University of Southern California. In addition, he has pursued extensive studies in chamber music and musicology. A former high school German teacher, Mr. Nakamatsu is a graduate of Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in German Studies and a master’s degree in Education. Jon Nakamatsu and his duo-partner, the renowned clarinetist Jon Manasse, serve as Artistic Directors of the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, an appointment announced during summer 2006. |
| BACH, J.S. Concerto #1 in d, BWV 1052 Concerto #5 in f, BWV 1056 BEETHOVEN Concerto #1 in C, Op. 15 Concerto #2 in Bb, Op. 19 Concerto #3 in c, Op. 37 Concerto #4 in G, Op. 58 Concerto #5 in Eb, Op. 73 ("Emperor") Fantasia in c, Op. 80 ("Choral") BERNSTEIN Symphony #2 (“The Age of Anxiety”) BRAHMS Concerto #1 in d, Op. 15 Concerto #2 in Bb, Op. 83 CHOPIN Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise, Op. 22 Concerto #1 in e, Op. 11 Concerto #2 in f, Op. 21 Fantasy on Polish Airs, Op. 13 "Krakowiak," Rondo in F, Op. 14 Variations on Mozart's "La ci darem la mano," Op. 2 FOSS, Lukas Concerto #1 FRANCK Symphonic Variations GERSHWIN Concerto in F Rhapsody in Blue Variations on "I Got Rhythm" GRIEG Concerto in a, Op. 16 LISZT Concerto #1 in Eb Concerto #2 in A Totentanz MENDELSSOHN Capriccio Brilliant in b, Op. 22 Concerto #1 in g, Op. 25 Concerto #2 in d, Op. 40 MOZART Concerto #16 in D, K. 451 Concerto #20 in d, K. 466 Concerto #21 in C, K. 467 Concerto #23 in A, K. 488 Concerto #24 in c, K. 491 Concerto #26 in D, K. 537 ("Coronation") Concerto #27 in Bb, K. 595 PROKOFIEV Concerto #3 in C, Op. 26 RACHMANINOFF Concerto #1 in f#, Op. 1 Concerto #2 in c, Op. 18 Concerto #3 in d, Op. 30 Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 RAVEL Concerto in G SAINT-SAENS Concerto #2 in g, Op. 22 Concerto #4 in c, Op. 44 SCRIABIN Concerto in f#, Op. 20 SCHUMANN Concerto in a, Op. 54 TCHAIKOVSKY Concerto #1 in b-flat, Op. 23 Concerto #2 in G, Op. 44 |
 |
BRAHMS - CLARINET SONATAS, Op. 120 with Jon Nakamatsu, pianist harmonia mundi usa CD: 907430 |
||
 |
GEORGE GERSHWIN Piano Concerto in F Rhapsody in Blue Jeff Tyzik, conductor Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra harmonia mundi usa 807441 |
||
 |
FRANZ LISZT Dante Sonata Petrarch Sonnets: 47, 104, 123 Mephisto Waltz #1 Impromptu à la Princesse Gortschakoff Valse-Impromptu Frühlingsnacht (Schumann-Liszt) Widmung (Schumann-Liszt) Hungarian Rhapsody #2 harmonia mundi usa: 907409 |
||
 |
JOHANNES BRAHMS Piano Sonata #3 in f, Op. 5 7 Fantasies, Op. 116 4 Piano Pieces, Op. 119 harmonia mundi usa: 907339 |
||
 |
JOSEPH WÖLFL Piano Sonata in c, Op. 25 Piano Sonata in C, Op. 33, No. 1 Piano Sonata in d, Op. 33, No. 2 Piano Sonata in E, Op. 33, No. 3 harmonia mundi usa: 907324 |
||
 |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto #3 in d, Op. 30 Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 Christopher Seaman, conductor Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra harmonia mundi usa 907286 |
||
 |
LUKAS FOSS Piano Concerto #1 Carl St. Clair, conductor Pacific Symphony Orchestra harmonia mundi usa: 907243 |
||
 |
FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN 3 Impromptus, Opp. 29, 36, 51 Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 66 Grande Fantaisie sur des Thèmes polonaise, Op. 13 Trios Mazurkas, Op. 59 Berceuse, Op. 57 Polonaise in c# minor, Op. 26, #1 Polonaise in A, Op. 40, #1 Polonaise in Ab, Op. 53 harmonia mundi usa: 907244 |
||
 |
TENTH VAN CLIBURN INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION Stravinsky: 4 Etudes, Op. 7 Brahms: Piano Sonata #1 in C, Op. 1 Chopin: Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise, Op. 22 Bolcom: 9 Bagatelles harmonia mundi usa: 907218 |
| “BENDING TOWARD ELEGANCE WITH A VIRTUOSIC EFFICIENCY This young American pianist has stunning technical control and can do anything at the piano he wants.” THE NEW YORK TIMES "To win the 10th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in June 1997, Jon Nakamatsu had to outperform two Russian flamethrowers. He did so, not by out-smashing them, but by combining marvelous clarity, balance between the hands and a controlled virtuosity that showed off his very intelligent musical mind. All those attributes were present in abundance last night when Nakamatsu made his Carnegie Hall debut before a nearly full house of 2,500." FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM "This was as close to absolutely perfect pianism as I’ve encountered anywhere. It was not merely a matter of manual dexterity in action, but a case of superior brain power. Tempos, timbre control, phrasing, accurate dynamics at all times, and overall structural strengths were all first-rate. Nakamatsu played with all the clarity of Mauricio Pollini blended with the sensibilities of a Walter Gieseking. I can’t remember the last time I came across such flawless musicality in a pianist." SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE - Heuwell Tircuit "Frankly, I was going to skip thru the Rhapsody in Blue due to overexposure, but just a short ways into it I was captivated for the duration. The Rhapsody sounds fresher and more cheeky than I’ve heard from most other recordings, and some of the more difficult piano passages in both works are run off with amazing clarity and acceleration by Nakamatsu." AUDIOPHILE AUDITION "Nakamatsu’s performance of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 was a remarkable feat of control, shading and nuance. Throughout the performance, he spun out one delicately balanced series of notes after another. His most dulcet pianissimos seemed as soft and transparent as rice paper, and one halfway expected to hear them tear. But even his softest keystrokes could be heard anywhere, a testament to his skill and to the quality of the piano." DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE (Rochester, NY) "Liszt's Piano Concerto #1 is something like a thoroughbred racehorse. It is big, fast and fraught with Danger at every turn. Not everyone can get in the saddle. Jon Nakamatsu joined the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in a breathtaking performance of the work. From the formidable octave runs to the shimmering technical passages in the upper registers, Nakamatsu was in control. In the slower interludes, Nakamatsu offered clarity of tone, a romantic cadenza and a magnificent trill that knew no end." THE CINCINNATI POST "If you missed the San Diego Symphony's concerts over the weekend, you missed something special. It's not often that Liszt's Piano Concerto #1 receives the kind of silky lyricism and fleet-fingered virtuosity that pianist Jon Nakamatsu provided. He raced through octaves, displaying speed and control. He sustained trills that would have worn out lesser fingers. Most gratifyingly, he revealed the finely etched lyricism that means so much to his musical sensibility." |
| 9/7/2007 (7:30pm) LINCOLN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Edward Polochick, conductor Lied Center for the Performing Arts Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini 9/14/2007 (8pm) LEXINGTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Dr. George Zack, conductor University of Kentucky Center for the Arts Brahms: Piano Concerto #1 9/15/2007 (7:30pm) LEXINGTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Dr. George Zack, conductor Corbin High School Auditorium Brahms: Piano Concerto #1 9/22/2007 (8pm) VALLEJO SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION David Ramadanoff, conductor James P. Hogan High School Auditorium Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini 9/29/2007 (7:30pm) BOZEMAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 9/30/2007 (2:30pm) Matthew Savery, conductor Willson Auditorium Rachmaninoff: Concerto #3 10/6/2007 (8pm) CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF DETROIT Seligman Performing Arts Center (Beverly Hills, MI) with Berlin Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet 10/21/2007 (2pm) ADAMS FOUNDATION PIANO RECITAL SERIES Thomaston Opera House (Thomaston, CT) Scarlatti: 4 Sonatas (g, E, c, d) Beethoven: Piano Sonata #15 Chopin: Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise Tjeknavorian: Danses Fantastiques Liszt: Impromptu Liszt: Valse Impromptu Liszt: "Dante" Sonata 10/25/2007 (8pm) FLORIDA WEST COAST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 12/15/2007 (8pm) GALLO CENTER FOR THE ARTS (Modesto) 4/6/2008 (7pm) ADAMS FOUNDATION PIANO RECITAL SERIES 4/26/2008 (3pm) THE ORINDA COMMUNITY CHURCH 7/23/2008 (8pm) INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS 7/30/2008 (6:30pm) SUN VALLEY SUMMER SYMPHONY 8/3/2008 (4pm) CAPE COD CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL 8/8/2008 (8pm) CAPE COD CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL 8/13/2008 (6pm) SANTA FE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL 8/22/2008 (8pm) CAPE COD CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL |
