Wednesday 15 November 2023, 6.30pm

Ayane Nakajima

Bach Prelude & Fugue in F minor, BWV 881
Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
Chopin Andante Spianato et Grand Polonaise Brillante in E flat major, Op. 22

‘A performance of noble grace and clarity combined with emotional warmth and celestial lyricism. Bach Prelude and Fugue in F minor- the Prelude was flowing with natural agogics, embellished with passing notes and trills, a gentle rendering with beautiful colouring of parts. A brisk start to the fugue, dry and clear articulation contrasted to the more smoothly sustained prelude. Characterful voice leading and precise articulation together with a fast tempo created a driven character. Beethoven Sonata op 111- the monumental scope of this monolith sonata was evident from the grand opening gestured by Ayane. Powerful virtuosic passages interchanged with atmospheric and well judged pauses and lyrical episodes. Rhythmic drive and clarity of the playing, once again, brought the character to the surface but more appropriately to the style, waves of emotional charge streamed through the playing. The Adagio was as beautifully paced, full of rich well-voiced sonorities with inner voices creating perfect harmony. Noble expression unveiled the rolling narrative passing through moments of perfect celestial stillness and contemplation and through moments of utter determination and emotional intensity. One felt that the sonata was too short in the hands of Ayane- so emotionally harmonious and balanced was her interpretation of this gigantic masterwork. The Chopin Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise Brillante confirmed Ayane as a brilliant virtuoso as well as stylistically aware interpreter. Flawless passages intermingled with seductive micro rubato and Polonaise pacing to make the audience wish they were able to dance. The great dynamic contrasts threw light and shade onto the piece from powerful octave runs to gentlest harp-like arpeggios of the Andante Spianato.’

It was a most enjoyable recital, which left the audience mesmerised, excited and clear that they had witnessed a real artist at work.Elena Vorotko C/O Artistic Director Keyboard Trust

Japanese-American pianist Ayane Nakajima is the prize winner of several international competitions including Young Texas Artists, the International Keyboard Odyssiad and Festival, and YoungArts.

Ayane was born in New York and began studying the piano at the age of three at the Kaufman Music Center. From the age of six until she was eighteen, she studied privately with Dr. Hiromi Fukuda.

Ayane is currently a Royal College of Music Scholar and is studying for her Master’s degree with Danny Driver. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas where she studied with Dr. Jon Kimura Parker.

Ayane has given performances at prestigious venues across the United States such as Steinway Hall New York, Scandinavia House, Alice Tully Hall, Rose Studio at the Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and the New World Center. She also participates in summer festivals, most recently at the Académie Internationale d’Eté de Nice, where she studied with pianist Akiko Ebi.

Alongside many top honours, Ayane was selected as a recipient of the 2023 Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts by the Dean of Undergraduates at Rice University, awarded since 1983 to a graduating senior who exhibits ‘promise in the arts’. She was also nominated as a semi-finalist for the 2019 United States Presidential Scholar in the Arts. In 2018, she had her concerto debut performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Eugene Muneyoshi Takahashi and the Lucidity Chamberistas.

As a chamber musician, Ayane has won multiple chamber music competitions including the 2019 Young Musicians Competition at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, performing Faure’s Piano Quartet No. 1 at Alice Tully Hall. She was also invited by euphonist Demondrae Thurman, Chair of the Department of Brass at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, to perform alongside him and other brass musicians in Port Washington, NY. She has worked closely with notable chamber coaches such as Paul Kantor, Desmond Hoebig and Kathleen Winkler, and has participated in masterclasses with distinguished teachers and performers such as Roberto Plano, Jeremy Denk, Logan Skelton, Nina Lelchuk, Akiko Ebi and Marina Lomazov.