The Web site Japan's Classical Music Artists introduces promising local classical artists to the rest of the world in addition to carrying news related to concerts, festivals and competitions.
Earlier this year, the English/ Japanese site — sponsored by the Japan Association of Classical Music Presenters and NEC Corp. — carried out an online survey to select six candidates to play in a gala concert on March 29 at Kioi Hall in Tokyo. About 10,000 classical-music lovers voted, and the concert can currently be viewed at the Japan's Classical Music Artists site.
One highlight is seeing Naoko Takeuchi play the chromatic harmonica, rarely performed in classical music. Born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Takeuchi started learning her instrument aged 8 before going on to graduate from the Hohner Konservatorium Trossingen, Germany. Takeuchi's performance included familiar tunes such as Johann Sebastian Bach's "Air sur G," Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria" and James Moody's "Toledo-Spanish Fantasy."
To view the concert, visit japansclassic.com and click on "Gala Concert," or visit japansclassic.com/ concert/070329/01.html
Takeuchi also plays a recital at Lilis Hall, Sakae-ku, Yokohama, at 2 p.m. on Aug. 21 (¥3,000; tel. [03] 3265-9015) near JR Hongodai Station.
