Pianist
Contents: Biography
CD Reviews
Reviews
Concerto Repertoire
Solo Repertoire
YouTube Video Links
Photo Gallery
Complete artist information including video, audio and interviews are available at www.pricerubin.com
Jack Price Managing Director
1 (310) 254-7149 Skype: pricerubin [email protected]
Mailing Address: 1000 South Denver Avenue Suite 2104 Tulsa, OK 74119 Website: http://www.pricerubin.com
Rika Zayasu – Biography
Japanese-born pianist Rika Zayasu has performed to critical acclaim throughout Europe, America, and Japan. Active educator and researcher, she is also the founder and artistic director of Tudeley Festival of Chamber Music and Voice, held on the first weekend of July every year in a picturesque countryside village of Tudeley, Kent, UK. She has exclusively recorded for Claudio Records for many years, its unique Q-Lab lifelike sound is praised both nationally and internationally and her debut Debussy album was received with immediate acclaim by the British press including several five-star plus reviews. Next recording projects with Claudio include the recordings of complete Scriabin piano sonatas and various works for violin and piano in collaboration with violinist Dima Tkachenko. Next season highlights will include a series of concerto appearances in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada (including Bach keyboard concertos in D and G minor and Beethoven 3rd and 4th piano concertos), a series of chamber music concerts in France, Italy, Austria and Japan and a world premiere performance of British composer Christian Mason's new work at St John's Smith Square, London. Having spent her formative years in France, Rika Zayasu studied under Michel Béroff and Denis Pascal in Paris before moving to London to work with Maria Curcio, the legendary pupil of Artur Schnabel. She also obtained Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s Degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under the supervision of Prof. Joan Havill. She currently lives in Kent, UK.
Rika Zayasu – CD Reviews
CD review Debussy-Takemitsu =EXX*****Claudio CR 6003-2 (CD); CR 6003-6 (DVD-A) [62’20”] Purchase from Claudio Records
"An impressive record, with some of the finest piano tone on disc I have heard. The playing of this gifted artist is of high quality throughout, the Claudio Q-Lab Sound being stunningly lifelike. All in all, here is an exceptional disc; the repertoire selected is equally intelligent and compelling. [MM] " – Musical Opinion "She drew Debussy’s internal landscape with great ease by using both glittering tones and colours in soft pastels...The iridescent radiance of Poissons d’or was beautifully expressed.[Taro Araki]" – Music Today
Rika Zayasu – Reviews
"Zayasu's masterful performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major..., was an emotional and dramatic work that left concertgoers stunned by the explosion of sound. Zayasu's grace and power was recognized and rewarded as the audience gave a standing ovation that brought her out no less than three times. Brava!" – The Chieftain "She drew Debussy’s internal landscape with great ease by using both glittering tones and colours in soft pastels...The iridescent radiance of Poissons d’or was beautifully expressed." – Taro Araki, Ongaku Gendai "An impressive record...The playing of this gifted artist is of high quality throughout, the Claudio Q-Lab Sound being stunningly lifelike..." – Martin Morris, Musical Opinion Magazine "Rika Zayasu is a fine and sensitive musician. I had pleasure teaching her, and wish her the best for the future." – Michel Béroff
Rika Zayasu – Concerto Repertoire
Beethoven:
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, op. 15 Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, op. 37 Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, op. 58 Fantasy in C minor for piano, chorus & orchestra “Choral Fantasy”, op. 80
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, op. 15 Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, op. 11 Franck: Variations symphoniques Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major Mozart:
Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466 Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat major, K. 482 Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major Concerto pour la main gauche Schumann: Piano Concerto in A Minor, op. 54 Strauss, R.: Burleske in D minor for piano & orchestra Takemitsu:
Riverrun for piano and orchestra Quotation of Dream for 2 pianos and orchestra
Rika Zayasu – Solo Repertoire
Bach: French Suite No. 1 in D Minor, No. 5 in G Major Beethoven: Sonatas Op. 10-3, 13, 27-1, 81a, 101 Berio: 5 Variazioni Brahms:
Sonatas Op. 2, Op. 5 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 6 Stücke, Op. 118 4 Stücke, Op. 119
Chopin: 4 Ballades Scherzos Polonaise-fantaisie, Op. 61 Berceuse, Op. 59 Barcarolle, Op. 60
Debussy: Images book I, II oubliées L’îsle joyeuse Préludes book I, II Etudes
Ian Dickson: Solo for piano No. 1, 2, Findings Franck: Prélude, choral et fugue Liszt:
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 Rhapsodie espagnole, Mephisto Waltz Sonetto 47, 104 123 del Petrarca (Années de pèlerinage, 2e année) Sonata in B Minor
Christian Mason: …Just as the Sun is always… On Love And Death
Messiaen: Préludes Vingt regards sur l’Enfant Jésus (excerpts) Cantéyodjaya Le merle bleu
Rika Zayasu – Solo Repertoire
Mozart: Sonatas K. 284, K. 310, K. 457, K. 570 Rachmaninoff:
Moments Musicaux Sonata No. 2
Ravel: Jeux d’eaux Miroirs Gaspard de la nuit Le tombeau de Couperin
Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9 Kinderscenen, Op. 15 Kleisleriana, Op. 16 Arabeske, Op. 18
Scriabin: 10 Sonatas Schubert: Impromptus, Op. 90 Peter Sculthorpe: Night Pieces Stravinsky: 3 mouvements de Pétrouchka Takemitsu:
Les yeux clos, Les yeux clos II Rain tree sketch Rain tree sketch II Requiem for string orchestra (piano arrangement/R. Zayasu)
Rika Zayasu – YouTube Video Links
Bach: French Suite in D minor, BWV 812, Allemande
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVDJCwPTISw
Bach: French Suite in D minor, BWV 812, Courante
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOBsFiF4ups
Beethoven: Pt 1-7; Piano Sonata No.28 in A major, Op. 101, 1st mvt - Allegretto
ma non troppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP6RXHo2-kE
Debussy: Images, Book I – 1. Reflets dans l’eau
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcUmYc2CdtA
Debussy: Images, Book I – 2. Hommage a Rameau
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjGSEproiR4
Debussy: Images oubliees – 1. Lent – Melancolique et doux
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDandtmJbaU
Christian Mason: On Love And Death (2009) – 1. In An Halcyon Sea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9YZUIoN9Uk
Ravel: Gaspard de la Nuit – Ondine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUf3knvPixE
Ravel: Gaspard de la Nuit – Scarbo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FREKtXhuUe4
Ravel: Gaspard de la Nuit – Le Gibet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mokY5Vs8t58
Takemitsu: Rain Tree Sketch II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7i5VFz7eZE
Takemitsu: Les yeux clos II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9ByJSVKz2s