Postponed – Kuniko Katō

Performers: Kuniko Katō (percussion, Japan)

Introduction

Please note: We regret to inform you that, due to Japanese percussionist Kuniko Katō’s illness, her concert at the Arvo Pärdi Keskus has been postponed.

At the end of October, percussionist Kuniko Katō will perform at the Arvo Pärdi Keskus for the first time. Kuniko Katō, who performs under the name Kuniko, studied with legendary Japanese percussionist Keiko Abe at the Tōhō Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo and with Robert van Sice at the Rotterdam Conservatory. She was the first percussionist to graduate from a conservatory in this field cum laude.

After completing her music studies, Kuniko lived and worked in Europe and the United States for more than ten years. In 1996, she won the prestigious Kranichstein Music Prize awarded by the Darmstadt University of Music, and second prize at the Leigh Howard Stevens International Marimba Competition in the United States.

Kuniko has arranged for percussion works by internationally renowned composers, including Franco Donatoni, James Wood, Tōru Takemitsu, Iannis Xenakis, Seiji Ozawa, Steve Reich, Unsuk Chin and Arvo Pärt. In 1997, she recorded James Wood’s Marimba Concerto in London; the recording received high praise from the BBC. In 1999, she released her first solo album, “To the Earth”. In 2005, Kuniko took part in the Japanese premiere of James Wood’s musical stage work “The Pure Land” (Jōdo), which became one of the highlights of her emerging career. In 2011, the CD “Kuniko Plays Reich”, featuring works in the composer’s minimalist style of the 1980s, was released and became the year’s best-selling album. In 2013, she also received the prestigious Keizō Saji Award, presented by the Suntory Foundation for the Arts in Japan. Kuniko’s fourth solo album, “J. S. Bach – Solo Works for Marimba”, recorded at Tartu Jaani Church, was released in 2017.

Kuniko’s wholehearted dedication to her instrument and interest in new music have brought her into personal contact with several of today’s acclaimed composers. In 2013, Kuniko collaborated with Arvo Pärt and released the widely acclaimed recording “Cantus”. With Arvo Pärt’s approval, Kuniko has arranged several of his best-known works for percussion, including “Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten”, “Spiegel im Spiegel”, “Für Alina” and “Fratres”.

Alongside regular solo concerts in Europe, Asia and America, Kuniko has performed with a number of orchestras and ensembles, including the Saitō Kinen Festival Orchestra and the ensembles Nomad (Japan) and Ictus (Belgium). She has also collaborated with well-known dancers and choreographers such as Megumi Nakamura, Satoshi Miyagi and Makoto Hirayama, as well as with the Za Ondekoza taiko drummers. In addition to her concert work, Kuniko is active in teaching, leads masterclasses around the world and takes part in charitable projects.

Ticket information

Tickets: €35/€25/€75. The supporter ticket (€75) includes a reserved seat in the middle rows of the auditorium and a guided tour of the building before the concert. The guide will meet you at the information desk at 16:00.

Transfer Tallinn–Arvo Pärdi Keskus–Tallinn: €20

Book a transfer from Tallinn to Laulasmaa. The vehicle leaves Tallinn at 15:45 from the parking area next to Solaris (Teatri väljak 1), stops at 16:00 at the Haabersti Circle K car park (Paldiski mnt 106)*, and arrives at the Arvo Pärdi Keskus 25 minutes before the event begins. The return journey leaves the centre’s car park 15 minutes after the event ends and takes you back to the original meeting point. The round-trip fare is €20 per person. Sales end 24 hours before the event begins. The service is provided by PremiumTaxi.

*Another pick-up point may be arranged by contacting info@arvopart.ee.

Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged.