Pianist 八木良平, who presented a recital devoted to piano works by Ukrainian composers,
will release the complete concert video on YouTube at 18:00 on Friday, February 23.
YouTube Video
Shiro Consort ～ウクライナのピアノ曲～ 八木良平
Available from 18:00 on Friday, February 23
Full concert video to be released free of charge
On the 15th of this month, pianist 八木良平 held a solo recital at Keyaki Hall in the Koga Masao Museum of Music in Uehara, Shibuya, Tokyo.
Titled “Shiro Consort～ウクライナのピアノ曲～,” the concert featured works by Ukrainian composers from the 19th to the first half of the 20th century. The program consisted entirely of rare pieces seldom performed in Japan, including Shamo’s “ウクライナ組曲,” Kosenko’s “ガボット,” and Tsfasman’s “叙情的なワルツ.” The distinctive sonorities and beautiful melodies of these Ukrainian composers captivated the audience.
A graduate of Osaka College of Music who works primarily in the Kansai region, Yagi had often included Russian music in earlier concerts. While researching music for a performance, however, he realized that a number of the composers were actually Ukrainian. He recalls that “Ukrainian music has historically been grouped together under the label of ‘Russian music.’”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. That April, Yagi presented a concert in Kobe devoted exclusively to Ukrainian composers and donated the admission fees and online video streaming revenue to the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan. The Kobe concert attracted attention among music fans, and calls grew for performances in other cities. The long-awaited Tokyo recital has now taken place.
Yagi shared the following comment.
Yagi:“Ukraine and Russia both have wonderful music, but this war has made me hesitate to perform them together,” he says, describing his anguish as a musician. “I hope the war ends soon, so that we can perform them together without hesitation. I want us to return to peaceful days when the people of both countries acknowledge each other’s cultures.”
With the 24th marking two years since the invasion of Ukraine, the complete Tokyo concert video will be made available free of charge in the hope that it will give people “an opportunity to wish for peace.”
CONCERT
Shiro Consort ～ウクライナのピアノ曲～
Performer: 八木良平 (piano)
February 15, 2024
Venue: Keyaki Hall, Koga Masao Museum of Music
Organizer: 白金ピアノスタジオ
ヴィクトル・コセンコ：ガヴォット
ネスター・ニジャンコフスキー：ワルツ
クレメンティ・コルチャマレフ：左手のための前奏曲
アレクサンドル・ツファスマン：抒情的なワルツ
イホール・シャモ：ウクライナ組曲 （I. Duma、II. Vesnyanka、III. Melodie 、IV. Tanz）
イホール・シャモ：私のキーウ（キエフ） (encore)
About 八木良平
八木良平（Ryohei Yagi）
Graduated from the piano program in the Department of Instrumental Music at Osaka College of Music. He is also active in chamber music and piano-duo performances with the late 三善晃, the late 杉谷昭子, 金澤攝, 生駒三都, and 戸田優佳. In 1996, he planned and performed a memorial concert for 武満徹 as part of the Phoenix Evolution Series. He won first prize in General Division A of the 10th Great Wall Cup International Music Competition. Since 2013, he has performed and organized events as the owner of the classical salon Amadeus in Kobe’s Motomachi district.
