Old Meets New: Tradition + Modernity + Japan + Vietnam
On the auspicious occasion of the 1000th Anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi, the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, in cooperation with Youth Theatre, proudly presents Karin & Quartet Music Concert in Hanoi on Wednesday 8 & Thursday 9 December 2010.
Karin will lead the group with her distinctive songs of message, accompanied by the brilliant sounds of her 25-stringed koto (Japanese harp), an instrument based on the standard koto in conjunction with the growing popularity of modern music. Karin has traveled the world, constantly making new connections. Akihito Obama will join her on the shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute), displaying a combination of eloquent traditional techniques as well as fluency in Western styles. Also traveling are Mami Ishizuka on the piano, covering a wide range of musical elements from jazz to world music, and percussionist Aki-ra Sunrise to excite listeners with a horizon of rhythms on his self-made and other instruments from around the world.
In particular in Vietnam, Karin & Quartet will also meet with the contemporary sounds of the 16-stringed Vietnamese harp played by Vo Van Anh (a.k.a. Vanessa Vo), as well as the voice of Thu Huyen, one of the promising Cheo (Vietnamese folk opera) singers.
The fusion of Japanese and Vietnamese music will surely bring you to one of the exciting musical journeys this year.
Admission is free. The free tickets are available at the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam (27 Quang Trung / TEL 04-3944-7419) from 10 am on Friday 26 November 2010.
■ Performance information
Karin & Quartet Music Concert
Date: [Open] 19:00 [Start] 20:00
Wednesday 8 & Thursday 9 December 2010
Venue: Youth Theatre (Nha Hat Tuoi Tre)
11 Ngo Thi Nham, Hanoi / TEL: 04 – 39430820
■ Profiles of Musicians
Karin
25-stringed koto (Japanese harp), Vocal
Started playing the 25-stringed koto at the age of 12. Became a professional performer at 14. Studied the 13-stringed Ikuta Style Koto at Tokyo University of the Arts. She has developed her own singing and dancing “KARIN” style, a unique way of taking the rhythm using the percussion and with her feet, which astonishes all the audiences. She has received the award of the Best Debutant of the Year 2009 in Japan.
Akihito Obama
Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute)
Studied at the NHK Hogaku Gino-sha Ikusei-kai. Won the Second Annual Shakuhachi Newcomer Competition in 2000. He has developed and refined his technique by performing in venues from small clubs to large concert halls with artists playing both Japanese and Western instruments. This has allowed him to penetrate traditional barriers and discover his own distinct sound.
Mami Ishizuka
Piano, Vocal
Started playing the piano at the age of 3. Studied the piano at the Kunitachi College of Music. She delights audiences with varied melodious piano styles enhanced by her crystal clear voice. She also works in the studio on commercials and television music, and has an impressive truck record of arrangements and productions.
Aki-ra Sunrise
Percussions
Started playing drums in high school. On a trip after graduation to Spain, he encountered the African djembe drum, which prompted him to create his own improvisation performance style using instruments from around the world. He also makes his own instruments that involve the use of water, and offers experiential workshops through which participants can “feel water, play with water, and feel their own bodies.”
Van-Anh Vanessa Vo
16-stringed Vietnamese harp (Dan tranh)
Started playing the 16-stringed Vietnamese harp at the age of 4. Studied at the Vietnam Academy of Music. Won the championship in the Vietnam National Dan Tranh Competition in 1995. Among her accomplishments are the 2009 Emmy® Award-winning soundtrack for the documentary Bolinao 52, which she co-composed and recorded, and the soundtrack for the 2003 Academy Awards® nominee Daughter from Danang.
Thu Huyen
Cheo (Vietnamese folk opera) singer
Studied at Hanoi College of Art. Chairperson of Hanoi Cheo Party. Won the first prize at the Young Talent Competition of Traditional Art in 2000. Received the honor of Meritorious Artist from the Vietnamese government in 2007. She is one of the top Cheo singers and well known as the player for the roles of Thi Mau and Sita.
■ For inquiries & the interviews with musicians
Ms. Nha / Mr. Yoshioka
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi TEL 04-3944-7419
(Vietnamese) Ms. Nha / Mobile 098-293-9314 / nhachm@jpf.org.vn
(English & Japanese) Mr. Yoshioka / Mobile 0123-384-4138 / norihiko_yoshioka@jpf.org.vn
