Born in
Tokyo, Japan in 1978, Kaori Muraji received her first lessons on the guitar
from her father Noboru Muraji at the age of three. At the age of ten, she
continued her studies with the renowned guitarist Shinichi Fukuda. She won the top prize at the 1989
Junior Guitar Contest, and was the winner of the Student Guitar Competition in
two consecutive years 1989 and 1991. She was the youngest ever student to win
the Leo Brouwer International Guitar Concours and Tokyo International Guitar
Concours in 1992.
In
1993, Ms. Muraji gave her debut recital at Tsuda Hall in Tokyo, which was soon
followed by the release of her debut CD “Espressivo”. Her orchestra
debut came in 1994 with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 1995 she was
selected as soloist to tour with the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI on
its Japan tour. In May of that year, the same orchestra invited Ms. Muraji to
join them in one of their subscription concerts in Turin. The concert, which
was broadcasted on TV throughout Europe, marked Ms. Muraji’s European debut.
Ms.
Muraji continued her musical education, and in 1997 went to study under Albert
Ponce at Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris. In 1999, she had the extraordinary
opportunity to perform for the legendary Joaquin Rodrigo, playing two of his
compositions, Tiento antigno and En los trigales.
With
her graduation from Ecole Normale that year, she returned to Japan to pursue
her solo career, yet her international reputation continued to flourish. In
2001, Ms. Muraji performed for the first time with the Orquesta de Camara
Joaquin Rodrigo in Valencia, Spain. In May of the following year, she toured
Japan with the same ensemble as part of the centennial celebration of Rodrigo’s
birth. She again joined the Vogler Quartet on their Japan tour in February of
2003.
In the
summer of 2004, Kaori Muraji toured in Japan with Jose Maria Gallardo Del Rey.
In December, she performed the Japan premiere of Lorenzo Palomo’s Nocturnos de
Andalucia with Maestro Rafael Fruehbbeck de Burgos conducting the Yomiuri
Nippon Symphony Orchestra Tokyo.
She has
a serene, yet evocative style of playing that seems full of emotion and
passion. A great way to start the week.
Spanish Dances: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2z2VnuzYW4
Fantasia para un Gentilhombre: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTrNs9HOIwU
Notturno No. 2, Chopin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foul5rTtRpE
Here there and everywhere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5eHLAACzcs
Tears in heaven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry23Xm1WNH4
Recuerdos De La Alhambra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXRFm1AZIkA
Medley from - New Cinema Paradise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAaIiQeh9iU
Concerto De Aranjuez: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7_GzPsguzk
Etude No. 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js6YF25ISOo
Over the rainbow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mKn2M99sRY
The fool on the hill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y3T5wB0UAM
Tango en skai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJONmetWr8c
Because one of
her favorite guitarist/composers is Joaquin Rodrigo, I suggest a Spanish wine.
I uncorked just the ticket this weekend, namely a bottle of the 2007 Vall Llach
Embriux (pronounced “Embroosh”; $24.00) from Spain’s Priorat region. This is my
favorite Spanish wine, witnessed by the fact that I buy it by the case. This deep
ruby red wine is primarily Garnacha accented by touches of Cariñena grapes and opens with aromas of
blueberries, black raspberries, and exotic spices. It’s taste is complex
following aroma, but adding flavors of chocolate, plum, and boysenberries with
soft tannins. It’s a wonderful wine to enjoy with the music of a stellar
guitarist.
Cheers!
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