"Amazing sound . . . this talented ensemble produces a sound that is polished and precise, with a stirring full-bodied maturity . . . Otaki is a dynamic performer. She displayed awesome technical proficiency at the keyboard, executing this highly ornamental work with passion and authority."
J. Stigers, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, 4/10/98
"Performed with the cohesiveness of mature musicians who have grown up breathing the same air, singing the same songs and dancing to the same rhythms. String sonorities were warm, tempos flexible, dynamics expressive . . . Interpretations of Czech music glowed with ancestral pride. The strings played their parts with rhythmic vitality, and they gave spirited support to Otaki. Her playing was clean, clear and unmannered, and the music spoke with grace."
W. Salisbury, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, 4/3/98
" 4 Stars rating! [Excellent] Everything the Brno Chamber Orchestra played in its Indianapolis debut was played beautifully, and everything the musicians played so beautifully was interesting . . . Otaki's assurance and her gem-like brilliance brought the cheerful outer movements and the hymnlike slow movement to vibrant life. Here was refinement without loss of spirit and rhythmic vigor without loss of elegance."
C. Staff, The Indianapolis Star, 4/7/98
"One of the most appealing of the 12-string-player genre . . . unwaveringly fine intonation . . . I can only praise their ensemble in the highest terms . . . the players are so well trained that they sounded as one all evening. Elegance, balance, and lucidity were the bywords. Pianist Michiko Otaki shaped phrases with the utmost taste and subtlety. The technical demands were so easily met and so imbued with musicality that even the most Tchaikovsky-jaded listeners sat forward in full attention. So affecting was her performance that the knowedgeable audience gave her a standing ovation. "
P. Somers, Classical New Jersey, 4/15/98
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| From the Southernmost City in the USA... | ...to the Badlands of South Dakota |
Complete Itinerary of 1998 U.S. Tour
Complete review available upon request. Please contact:
Raymond Weiss Artist Management,
Inc.
300 West 55th Street, suite 5-L
New York, NY 10019-5138
212-581-8478
FAX:581-8479
email: rwam@mcimail.com