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Maksim Shtrykov clarinet
Misuzu Tanaka Piano
www.misuzutanaka.com/duo
Booking Inquiries
Misuzu Tanaka
Booking Representative
misuzupiano@gmail.com
Ph: (646) 508-8559
A
Parker Artists
Thomas F. Parker
tom@parkerartists.com
Ph: (212) 864-7928
A
SOUTH AFRICA
Hannie Hefer Promotions
Hannie Hefer
hannie@hannieheferpromotions.co.za
Ph: 0027 (0)11 793-2334
Press Kit Contents
Shtrykov-Tanaka Duo
Meet the Artists
Reviews
Multimedia samples
Program Samples
Duo Repertoire
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Shtrykov-Tanaka Duo
Comprised of two sensationally gifted and acclaimed virtuosi - clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov and pianist Misuzu
Tanaka - the SHTRYKOV-TANAKA DUO has been heard throughout the East Coast, garnering an impressive
record of instant re-engagements.
Both artists are graduates of The Juilliard School in New York City and enjoy extensive international solo
careers that have heard them in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Germany’s Leipzig Gewandhaus and
Japan’s Izumi Hall.
Mr. Shtrykov and Ms. Tanaka first met in December 2012, when they were invited to present a clarinet and
piano program during that holiday season in New York City. As avid chamber music collaborators, they
instantly felt a unique artistic connection, resulting in an inspiring and creative friendship that blossomed into
the Shtrykov-Tanaka Duo.
Meet the Artists:
Maksim Shtrykov clarinet
Already an acclaimed artist in his native Belarus, clarinetist Maksim
Shtrykov is quickly gaining renown as an artist of remarkable
charisma and extraordinary musicianship. Hailed for “…clarity that’s
viscerally breathtaking…” and “effortless…quicksilver legato...”
Maksim continues to win over audiences with his profound musical
sensibility and flawless technique. As the recipient of Artist
International’s New York Debut Award, he was presented in his solo
debut recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in April, 2007.
Since his orchestral debut at the age of 14, Maksim Shtrykov
appeared regularly with the Belarusian State Academic Symphony
Orchestra and State Chamber Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus.
He was awarded First Prize of the Belarus National Woodwind
Competition and is a prizewinner of the Dymtro Bida International
Woodwind Competition in Ukraine. Mr. Shtrykov is also a two-time
recipient of the Presidents’ Foundation Award “Young Talents of
Belarus.”
Maksim Shtrykov actively performs both as a recitalist and with
various chamber music ensembles. As a founding member of the
Chamber Trio “Reflection,” he is a winner of Poland’s International
Johannes Brahms Chamber Music Competition, where he was awarded First Prize as well as the Special Award
for the best performance of a Brahms work. He is also a prizewinner of Italy’s International “Gaetano Zinetti”
Chamber Music Competition. A passionate advocate of clarinet music, Mr. Shtrykov regularly tours throughout
the United States with acclaimed piano virtuoso, Misuzu Tanaka, as members of the Shtrykov-Tanaka Duo.
Maksim Shtrykov holds a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, where he had been a scholarship
student in the studio of Charles Neidich.
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Misuzu Tanaka piano
As an avid performer of the music of J. S. Bach and Leoš Janáček,
Misuzu Tanaka has established herself as an artist of remarkable
individuality with a rare combination of poetic sensitivity and
breathtaking virtuosity. Recently hailed by critics as a pianist "…who
dispatched everything with both dizzying speed and sensitivity", she
is the winner of many prestigious competitions including First Prize
at the Poland Music Festival Competition and Second prize at the
Joan and Daniel Rutenberg Chamber Music Competition.
Ms. Tanaka presented highly acclaimed recitals at Alice Tully Hall in
New York, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany, Villa Bertramka,
Mozart Museum in Prague and Mest’anská Beseda in Pilsen, Czech
Republic. She was invited as a special guest artist to perform for
former U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, as well as former
Ambassador of the Slovak Republic, Ronald Weiser.
An advocate of modern music, she collaborated with many
prominent living composers and gave the World Premieres of works
by Paul Moravec (Pulitzer Prize Winner), Alberto E. Colla, and Ivan
Božičević. As an avid chamber musician, Ms. Tanaka has also collaborated with prominent artists including
James Dunham (Cleveland Quartet), Robert Merfeld, Richard Faria, and members of the National Symphony
Orchestra.
Misuzu Tanaka was invited to prestigious summer music festivals in the United States and Czech Republic such
as Bowdoin International Music Festival, Prague International Piano Masterclasses, and International Music
Academy in Pilsen where she studied with famed Czech pianist Ivan Moravec.
Ms. Tanaka studied piano at the Juilliard School with Martin Canin and Chamber music with Jacob Lateiner,
Seymour Lipkin, and Robert Mann. She holds a Masters in Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the
University of Michigan where she was full scholarship recipient studying with Dr. Logan Skelton.
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Reviews
“We are pleased to have had the Shtrykov-Tanaka Duo performing on our concert series…Clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov
and pianist Misuzu Tanaka, each an accomplished solo musician, achieved a perfect ensemble balance, two instrumental
voices engaged in lively conversation, in music by Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms and Carl Maria von Weber…It
was a privilege to have them on our series.”
Patricia H. Frederick
Manager, Historical Piano Concerts Inc.
“…an outstanding performance. Both Misuzu Tanaka and Maksim Shtrykov fulfilled all of our expectations and left
audience eager for more.”
Robert M. Nash
Executive Director, The Cultural Center of Cape Cod
“Shtrykov has a clarity that’s viscerally breathtaking. His quicksilver legato made the streams and frequent torrents of
notes seem absolutely effortless even though much of the program was considerably demanding. “
Lucid Culture, New York, NY
“Maksim is an unusually sensitive musician with excellent ensemble skills and a clarinetist who plays with great
imagination and attractive stage presence. The recitals he has given have been among the best I have heard recently.”
Charles Neidich
International Soloists and Recording Artists
Artist Faculty: The Juilliard School; Manhattan School; Mannes College
“Mr. Maksim Shtrykov is a virtuoso clarinetist who performs with conviction and excellence”
David Dubal
Emmy-Award winning Broadcaster and Classical Music Writer
"Foote’s late 19th century romantic music was a delightful, if somewhat arch, companion to Moravec’s rigorous and
cleverly constructed four movements of jazz-inflected virtuosity, commissioned this year for the group. The latter was
especially demanding for the pianist, the wonderful Misuzu Tanaka, who dispatched everything with both dizzying
speed and sensitivity."
Alexandra Ivanoff,
Today's Zaman, Istanbul, Turkey
Multimedia samples
Audio & Video
To listen to High Quality Audio & Video Recordings please follow: http://misuzutanaka.com/duo
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Program samples*
* All programs are available with an oral presentation
“Romantic Connections”: This recital presents true gems of the Romantic repertoire for clarinet and
piano, beginning with an enigmatic Fantasiestücke, Op.73 by Robert Schumann. Following this poetic work is a
brilliant and virtuosic Grand Duo Concertant, Op.48, written by the founder of the German romantic school,
Carl Maria von Weber. The second half of the program begins with one of the two most celebrated clarinet
Sonatas of the Romantic period, F minor Sonata, Op. 120 by Johannes Brahms. The concert concludes with a
famous paraphrase from Verdi’s opera masterpiece, “Rigoletto”, written by the Italian clarinet virtuoso and a
principal clarinetist at the La Scala, Milan, Luigi Bassi; a brilliant work that showcases the virtuosity of the
clarinet and piano it is sure to leave an impression on the listener!
SCHUMANN:
WEBER:
Fantasiestücke for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 73
Grand Duo Concertant, Op.48
Intermission
BRAHMS:
VERDI-BASSI:
Sonata in F minor for Clarinet and Piano, Op.120, no.1
Concert Fantasy on Themes from the opera “Rigoletto” for Clarinet and Piano
“Curtain Call”: This brilliant two-soloist recital is dedicated to music for clarinet and piano as well as for
piano solo, including works that were inspired by great Italian Operas such as Verdi’s “La Traviata”, “Rigoletto”
and Tchaikovsky's famous ballet, “The Nutcracker”. Through the magical voices of the clarinet and piano,
familiar heroes will appear in front of the audience on the imaginary stage: the court jester Rigoletto, Violetta
Valéry and Alfredo Germont in the story of La Traviata and, of course, the young Maria and her beloved
magical Nutcracker doll. This concert program will be especially attractive to, young adults, first-time
concertgoers and families with young children.
VERDI – LOVREGLIO:
MASSENET:
ROSSINI:
Fantasy on Themes from the opera “La Traviata” for Clarinet and Piano, Op.45
Meditation from the opera “Thais”
Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet and Piano, from the
opera “La Donna del lago”
Intermission
TCHAIKOVSKY:
VERDI-BASSI:
Concert Suite from the ballet “The Nutcracker” (arr. for piano by Pletnev)
Concert Fantasy on Themes from the opera “Rigoletto” for Clarinet and Piano
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“Dreams of Paris”: Program dedicated to works for clarinet piano written by most preeminent French
composers of the XX century. Recital is a true showcase of clarinet. In their works French masters were able to
discover true soul of the instrument with its enigmatic sound and colorful expressive capabilities, and show to
Paris' audiences that clarinet could be one of the most virtuosic instruments of the woodwind family.
DEBUSSY:
SAINT-SAËNS:
RAVEL:
Première rhapsodie for Clarinet and Piano
Sonata in E flat major for Clarinet and Piano, Op.167
Pavane pour une infante défunte
Intermission
WIDOR:
POULENC:
FRANÇAIX:
Introduction and Rondo for Clarinet and Piano
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1962)
Tema con Variazioni for Clarinet and Piano
“Epilogues”: This recital combines the last works of three leading classical composers – Johannes Brahms,
Camille Saint-Saëns and Francis Poulenc. It is a peculiar fact that the works of such a grand scale as the sonatas
are among the very the last works written by these composers. Each of these musicians chose the clarinet as the
last medium of their genius, drawn to its rich sound and soulful expression at the latest stage of their lives, and
entrusting in it a lifetime of wisdom and experience. Though the story behind the creation of each composition
differs, all of them hold a deeper philosophical meaning, being the pinnacles of the composers’ mastery.
SAINT-SAËNS:
BRAHMS:
Sonata in E flat major for Clarinet and Piano, Op.167
Sonata in F minor for Clarinet and Piano, Op.120, no.1
Intermission
BRAHMS:
POULENC:
Sonata in E flat major for Clarinet and Piano, Op.120, no.2
Sonata for Clarinet and piano (1962)
“Mirrors”: This program will feature some of the most famous jewels of the repertoire including Poulenc’s
brilliant Clarinet Sonata and Lutoslawski’s Dance Preludes. The centerpiece of the recital is a dramatic and
somber Sonata by Mieczysław Weinberg. Described as "the third great Soviet composer, along with Prokofiev
and Shostakovich", he faced both the Nazi and Soviet tyrannies and his magnificent output of over 150 opus
numbers still remains largely unknown to a wide audience.
LUTOSLAWSKI:
WEINBERG:
Dance Preludes, for Clarinet and Piano (1954)
Sonata Op.28 for Clarinet and Piano (1945)
Intermission
PÄRT:
POULENC:
BARTÓK:
Spiegel im Spiegel (1978)
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1962)
Romanian Folk Dances for Clarinet and Piano, Sz. 56, (1915)
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Duo Repertoire
BRAHMS
CHAUSSON
DEBUSSY
FINZI
GIAMPIERI
MASSENET
REINECKE
SCHUMANN
SAINT-SAËNS
VERDI-BASSI
VERDI -LOVREGLIO
WEBER
ELGAR
ARNOLD
BERG
FRANÇAIX
HOROVITZ
HONEGGER
IRELAND
LUTOSŁAWSKI
MILHAUD
MUCZYNSKI
MESSAGER
MARTINU
PÄRT
RABAUD
REGER
WIDOR
WEINBERG
Sonata in F-minor, Op.120 No.1
Sonata in E-flat major, Op.120 No.2
Andante and Allegro
Première Rhapsody for Clarinet and Piano
Five Bagatelles for Clarinet and Piano (1943)
Variations on “The Carnival of Venice”
Meditation from the opera “Thais”
Fantasy Pieces, Op.22
Fantasiestücke Op.73
Three Romances Op.91
Adagio and Allegro Op. 70
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Op.167
Concert Fantasy on Themes from the opera “Rigoletto”
Fantasy on Themes from the opera “La Traviata”, Op.45
Variations on a theme from the opera “Silvana”, Op. 33, J. 128
Grand Duo Concertante
Salut D’Amour Op.12
Elegy
XX Century music
Sonatina
Four Pieces Op.5
Tema con Variazioni
Sonatina for clarinet and piano (1981)
Sonatina
Fantasy-Sonata
Dance Preludes
Sonatina for clarinet and piano, Op.100
Duo Concertant
Time Pieces for clarinet and piano, Op.43
Solo de Concours
Sonatina
Spiegel im Spiegel (1978)
Solo de Concours, Op.10
Sonata Op.49 No.2
Introduction and Rondo Op.72
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, Op.28 (1945)
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