Art Tower Mito's Resident Ensemble, Quartet AT Mito, Holds its 4th Concert!

The Art Tower Mito resident ensemble, 'Quartet AT Mito,' acclaimed annually for its exquisite ensemble playing with perfect chemistry among its members and its approachable talks conveying their passion for the music, will hold its fourth concert this year. This year's program features Debussy's String Quartet, a crucial bridge to 20th-century music; 'A Way a Lone' by Toru Takemitsu, marking the 30th anniversary of his passing; and Beethoven's 'Razumovsky No. 3,' a cornerstone of his middle-period 'forest of masterpieces.'

Quartet AT Mito states, 'We want to deliver even better performances, cherishing the sense of trust with our audience,' and 'We want to journey together through music and experience the feeling of reaching a summit.' How will they deliver the suggestive innovation of Debussy's work, the swirling static flotation of Takemitsu's piece, and the muscular propulsion overflowing from Beethoven's composition? Please look forward to it!

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026 Doors open at 13:30, Concert starts at 14:00

Venue: Concert Hall ATM, Art Tower Mito

Tickets: All seats reserved General ¥4,500, U-25 (25 and under) ¥1,500 *No admission for preschool children

[About U-25 Tickets]

・A discounted ticket for those 25 years old and under (preschoolers not admitted). ・Only the person who purchased the ticket can use it. ・Proof of age is required for entry. ・Available only at Art Tower Mito.

Performers: Quartet AT Mito

Yosuke Kawasaki (Violin), Yuka Nishino (Violin), Shota Yanase (Viola), Rei Tsujimoto (Cello)

[Program] Debussy: String Quartet in G minor Toru Takemitsu: A Way a Lone Beethoven: String Quartet No. 9 in C major, Op. 59, No. 3 'Razumovsky No. 3'

What is 'Quartet AT Mito'?

Art Tower Mito (Mito Arts Foundation) has three resident ensembles: the 'Mito Chamber Orchestra,' the 'New Davidsbündler,' and, since 2023, 'Quartet AT Mito.'

This string quartet, centered around Yosuke Kawasaki, who enjoys the immense trust of Seiji Ozawa and serves as concertmaster for the Mito Chamber Orchestra and the Ottawa National Arts Centre Orchestra, brings together the active domestic and international musicians Yuka Nishino, Shota Yanase, and Rei Tsujimoto. The quartet's mission is to widely convey the charm of timeless string quartet masterpieces while also introducing excellent, lesser-known works. They are also engaged in community-based activities, such as outreach to welfare facilities in Mito City and coaching the Mito Junior Orchestra, to share the joy of the string quartet with various people.

Introduction to Past Concerts

The 1st Concert

The inaugural concert opened with Mozart's mature 'Prussian Quartet No. 1.' It excitingly depicted the episode of Musashibo Benkei meeting Ushiwakamaru on Gojo Bridge and later protecting him at the Battle of Koromogawa, using various string techniques in the ambitious 2020 work 'The Standing Death of Benkei' by Japanese-American composer Paul Wiancko. The second half concluded with a performance of Schubert's 'Death and the Maiden,' a masterpiece that shines in the string quartet repertoire, written while he was afflicted with illness, earning a standing ovation.

The 2nd Concert

At the second concert, they performed former Soviet composer Shostakovich's 'String Quartet No. 7,' dedicated to his late wife, and Dai Fujikura's 'Aquarius,' completed in 2020 with the intention of a 'floating, liquid-like' sound. They continued with a variation by African-American composer Hailstork that drew listeners into a modern and thrilling sound world, and Dvořák's 'American' quartet (both based on African-American spirituals). The former incorporated spirituals as his roots, while the latter drew from the culture that influenced him during his stay in America, sublimating them into magnificent string quartets. 'Quartet AT Mito' brilliantly portrayed the musicality of each. The expressive performance, backed by a meticulous ensemble, and the members' friendly talks were also very well received.

The 3rd Concert

The third concert featured masterpieces by Haydn and Beethoven, which can be called the royal road of the string quartet repertoire. Haydn's String Quartet No. 38, loved for its nickname 'The Joke' derived from its characteristic ending. And Beethoven's masterpiece, String Quartet No. 9, hailed as a 'summation' of his middle period of creation, which saw a succession of ambitious and challenging works aimed at breaking the mold of a style created by predecessors like Haydn and Mozart.