Saitama Hall Lunchtime Concert Vol.53
Piano duo SAKAMOTO (Aya Sakamoto, Risa Sakamoto Piano duo)

Feb. 3, 2023 (Fri) Start 12:10 pm (Ends 1:00pm)

Saitama Hall / Large Hall

Aya Sakamoto, Risa Sakamoto (Piano)

Akira Miyoshi: “Four Seasons of Songs” “In Preparation” (2 Pianos)

Faure: Suite “Dolly”, Op. 56 (Four-handed)

Schubert: Storms of Life D 947 (Four-handed)

Lutoslawski: Variations on a Theme by Paganini (2 Pianos)

Ravel: La Valse (2 Pianos)

Saitama Arts Foundation

Piano duo SAKAMOTO (Aya Sakamoto, Risa Sakamoto Piano duo)

They were the first Japanese duo to win the third prize in the piano duo division of the 70th ARD Munich International Music Competition, and also won the Audience Prize. They have won many top prizes in national and international competitions, including first prize at the 7th International Piano Duo Competition (Poland) and first prize at the 21st Schubert International Piano Duo Competition (Czech Republic).

In March 2022, the two gave the world premiere of the orchestral version of Joe Hisaishi’s “Variation 57 – Concerto for two pianos” at the subscription concert of the Century Orchestra of Japan, conducted by the composer himself. They have performed with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Japan Philharmonic, the Century Orchestra of Japan, and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, as well as in recitals and concerts in major concert halls, and is actively engaged in performance activities in Japan and Germany. He has appeared on NHK’s “Classic Club,” “Best of Classics,” “Igo Focus,” and many other media.

Aya graduated from the Toho Gakuen School of Music and received her Master’s degree in piano from the Tokyo University of the Arts. Upon completion of her studies, she was awarded the Acanthus Prize of the Graduate School and the Clavier Prize of the University of the Arts.
Lisa graduated from the Music High School attached to the Faculty of Music of Tokyo University of the Arts and Tokyo University of the Arts, where she also studied for a master’s degree in piano at the graduate school of the same university. Received the Doseikai Award for her undergraduate degree.
In 2019, both sisters traveled to Germany to complete their Master’s degree in Piano Duo at the Rostock State University of Music and Theater in Germany with top honors. Currently enrolled in the National Performer Certificate Program at the same university. From 2020, became a scholarship student of the Familie-Rahe Foundation in Germany. Received the 2022 Bruno Frei Music Award. Studied piano duo with Shinichiro Kato, Kei Itoh, Hans-Peter Stenzl & Volker Stenzl.