Cellist Dai Miyata and guitarist Koji Ohagi are both active on the front lines as players representing Japan. The second album by the popular duo of top players was released this week.
Miyata and Ohagi have been collaborating for some time and released their first album together in 2020. Despite the unusual arrangement of cello and guitar, their fresh sound, which perfectly matches each other, attracted a lot of attention, and their performances in various locations were sold out one after another.
This long-awaited second album features a variety of programs, from songs such as “When the Cherry Blossoms Rit” and “Suzhou Nocturne,” to masterpieces such as “Scarborough Fair,” film music, Celtic music, and the representative bossa nova song “Felicidade.” Show off. Album highlights include the avant-garde piece “Park of Idols” by Welsh composer Stephen Goss. At times tinged with nostalgia and melancholy, at other times overflowing with passion and dynamism, it depicts the music that can only be created by this duo.
Currently, the music videos for songs from the album, “When the Cherry Blossoms Rit” and “Scarborough Fair” are being released. A release commemorative tour will begin in January of the new year.
Messages from Dai Miyata and Koji Ohagi have also arrived for fans.
[Message from Dai Miyata and Koji Ohagi]
●Miyata University
All of the songs on this album are ones that I have fond memories of and that I love. This time, I feel like I’ve featured many works that give you a sense of melancholy. I think you will be able to feel the melancholy performance of the cello and guitar, as well as a sense of ennui.
In particular, Ryuichi Sakamoto’s “Poppoya” has always been a favorite of mine, so I was really happy to be able to perform it as a duo with Mr. Ohagi.
I would like to perform live on tour as soon as possible, and I would be happy if many people could listen to this album for a long time.
●Koji Ohagi
For this album, I chose the famous songs that I had heard in many performances, thinking that they would have a different perspective when played by Miyata & Ohagi.
The poetic and passionate nature of the cello and guitar lends itself easily to programs such as Suzhou Nocturne, and the percussive passages of avant-garde S. Goth. I think it is also an instrument that can demonstrate its true value even in the colorful suites included.
We look forward to seeing you on tour.
[Album information]
Released on 2024.12.11
“atelier”
[UHQCD]COCQ-85628 Nippon Columbia / DENON
(Recorded songs)
1. Antonio Carlos Jobim: Felicidade
2. British Folk Song: Scarborough Fair
3. Ryuichi Sakamoto: Andata
4. Antoine Renard: When the cherries ripen
5. Ennio Morricone/Masanori Kato: Morricone Fantasy
6. Ryoichi Hattori: Suzhou Nocturne
7. Ryuichi Sakamoto: Railwayman (Poppoya)
8. Masanori Kato: Celtic Spirit ~for guitar and cello~
9. Takatsugu Muramatsu: The Light Beyond
10-15. Stephen Goss: Park of Idols for guitar & cello
Dai Miyata (cello) Koji Ohagi (guitar)
Arrangement: Ryuta Tsunoda (Tr. 1, 2, 3, 6, 9), Atsushi Yamanaka (Tr. 4, 7), Masanori Kato (Tr. 5)
(Recording) April 16-18, 2024 Nasunogahara Harmony Hall
Label HP:
https://columbia.jp/artist-info/miyatadai/discography/COCQ-85628.html
Delivery link:
https://miyata-ohagi.lnk.to/atlier
[MV]
“Scarborough Fair”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjNpBj-gfBA
“When the cherries ripen”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D3Zmy7ygOQ
[Concert information]
Saturday, January 25th / Saitama: Denen Hall Elora (Matsubushi Town Central Community Center)
Sunday, January 26th / Tokushima: Komatsushima Sound House Hall
February 1st (Sat) / Tochigi: Nasunogahara Harmony Hall
February 2nd (Sun) / Saitama: Tokorozawa Citizens Cultural Center Muse
March 8th (Sat) / Aichi: Munetsugu Hall
Sunday, March 9th/Hiroshima: Hiroshima City Higashi Ward Citizens Cultural Center
June 7th (Sat) / Iwate: Chara Hall (Tonan Bunka Kaikan)
Friday, June 13th / Miyagi: Miyagino Cultural Center Patna Hall
Saturday, June 14th/Fukushima: Kenshin Koriyama Cultural Center
Sunday, June 15th / Aomori: Hirosaki Civic Hall Large Hall
June 27th (Friday) / Tokyo: Kioi Hall
July 5th (Sat) & 6th (Sun) / Hyogo: Hyogo Arts and Culture Center
July 21st (Monday/Holiday)/Kanagawa: Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall
others
【profile】
Dai Miyata, cello
In 2009, she became the first Japanese person to win the Rostropovich International Cello Competition. He has won first place in every competition he has participated in so far. His overwhelming performances have received strong support from composers and co-stars, and he has been highly praised by world-renowned conductor Seiji Ozawa, and is now active internationally as one of Japan’s leading cellists.
Graduated from Geneva Conservatory in Switzerland and Kronberg Academy in Germany. Studied cello with Sumiko Kurata and Frans Helmerson.
He has performed with major domestic orchestras, as well as the Orchester de Paris, the Russian National Symphony Orchestra, the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the SK German Radio Philharmonic, and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to documentary programs such as “The day I talked about music with Seiji Ozawa ~ cellist Dai Miyata, 25 years old ~” (participated in the art festival), “Untitled Concert”, “Tetsuko’s Room”, and “Classic TV” He has also appeared in many media outlets such as “Classic Club.” His unaccompanied cello recitals filled halls with more than 2,000 seats, including Suntory Hall and Muza Kawasaki, which also attracted attention.
In recent years, he has also been focusing on nurturing young talent, serving as a judge at international competitions and as a lecturer at ROHM Music Seminars.
He is also active in recording activities, and the European and American version of “Elgar: Cello Concerto”, conducted by Thomas Dausgaard and performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, won the concerto category at “OPUS KLASSIK 2021”, one of the prestigious awards in the European classical world. Awarded for (cello).
The instrument used was a 1698 A. Stradivarius “Cholmondeley” loaned by Ueno Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Specially appointed professor at Toho Gakuen University.
Yasuji Ohagi, guitar
After graduating from high school, he moved to France and studied at the Ecole Normale Conservatory in Paris and the Conservatoire National Supérieure de Paris. He won 2nd place at the Havana International Guitar Competition and was also awarded the special jury award “Leo Browell Award”. After that, he studied under Oscar Ghiglia at the Chigiana Conservatory in Italy for four years, receiving the top diploma four years in a row. Guitar by Hiroshi Hagiwara, Yoshihisa Nakano, Shinichi Fukuda, Carrel Arms, Albert Ponce, and Olivier Chassin, solfege by Junnosuke Yamada, lute, theorbo, and baroque guitar by Eric Belloc, and chamber music. Studied under Laszlo Addadi.
To date, he has appeared on many media outlets such as NHK’s “Top Runner,” “Hello from Studio Park,” “Larara♪Classic,” MBS’s “Jonetsu Tairiku,” and TV Asahi’s “Untitled Concert.”
In recent years, in the summer of 2019, he performed the “Aranjuez Concerto” with the NHK Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Michiyoshi Inoue), which was well received, and has also performed at La Folle Journet TOKYO, Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, Kirishima International Music Festival, and Miyazaki International Music Festival. He is regularly invited to major music festivals. He has also been invited to international festivals overseas such as Moscow, Colombia, and Cuba, and in September 2019 he participated in the Taiwan International Guitar Festival as a soloist and master class instructor.
To date, he has released over 20 CDs and 2 DVDs. The latest recordings are “Cantilene” with oboe Tomoyuki Hirota, and the second self-label collection of Villa-Lobos’ works “Melodia Sentimental”. In 2020, we celebrated our 20th anniversary as a performer. Received the 6th Hotel Okura Music Award and the 18th Idemitsu Music Award. Visiting professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music and Osaka College of Music.
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