Shunsuke Sato Explained

Shunske Sato
Birth Date:1984 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Tokyo, Japan
Instrument:Violin
Genre:Classical music
Occupation:Violinist

is a Japanese-born violinist. He was the concertmaster and artistic director of the Netherlands Bach Society from 2018 to 2023.[1]

Early life and education

Sato was born in Tokyo, Japan. When he was two years old, on a family outing to a shrine, Sato was intrigued by sounds from a Suzuki violin studio, which led him to begin playing the violin. He moved to the United States when he was three years old. Sato attended Central High School[2] in Philadelphia.

Sato was mentored by Chin Kim and Dorothy DeLay[3] and trained and educated by Masao Kawasaki at the Juilliard School, Jaime Laredo at the Curtis Institute, Gérard Poulet at the École Normale de Musique de Paris, and Mary Utiger at Hochschule für Musik und Theater München.

Career

Sato started his concert career in the United States at age 12 by winning the Young Concert Artists first prize in 1997, becoming the youngest winner.[4] He then performed throughout North America, Europe, and Japan as a soloist with orchestras such as Baltimore Symphony, Seattle Symphony,[5] National Symphony Orchestra (United States), Minnesota Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Federation, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Omsk Academy Symphony Orchestra,[6] Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France, Gulbenkian Orchestra, and Copenhagen Philharmonic.

Writing for The New York Times, Allan Kozinn praised Sato in his New York recital debut in 2000 as having "developed an astonishing level of poise and musicality".[7]

In 2001, Sato became the youngest artist to perform Beethoven's violin concerto at the Beethoven Festival in Bonn, Germany, which was broadcast through Deutsche Welle.[8]

He was the recipient of a loan by Nippon Music Foundation[9] and a winner of Idemitsu Music Award in 2005 sponsored by Idemitsu Kosan, one of the leading oil companies in Japan.

In 2007, as a violist, Sato recorded viola solo sonatas written for Sato by Akira Nishimura for Camerata Tokyo.[10]

As a baroque violinist, he won the Second Prize and the Audience Award at the 17th International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Leipzig, Germany in July, 2010.[11] [12] The Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan chose Sato to be a recipient of the New Face Prize in the Music Division at its 65th Arts Festival based on his Baroque recital which took place in Tokyo on 29 October 2010.[13]

In October 2011, Sato made his UK debut in Cambridge and London with the Academy of Ancient Music under the direction of Richard Egarr, performing Niccolò Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 2 with gut strings on a period instrument.[14]

In January 2013, Sato was appointed concertmaster of the Netherlands Bach Society Orchestra, succeeding Johannes Leertouwer,[15] as well as the Concerto Köln.[16] That same month, Sato also received a baroque violin made by Giovanni Grancino around 1695 on loan from the Jumpstart Jr. Foundation in Amsterdam, Netherlands.[17] In November, the Amsterdam School of the Arts announced their appointment of Sato as a guest teacher to the Early Music Department.[18] In December, Sato performed duo recitals of Mozart's sonatas at the Izumi Hall in Osaka[19] and the Toppan Hall in Tokyo, Japan[20] along with German pianist and harpsichordist Andreas Staier.

In August 2015, Sato made his Canadian debut in Montreal with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Kent Nagano, performing Johann Sebastian Bach's Violin Concerto No.1 with a period instrument.[21]

In September 2016, Sato made his Australian debut in Sydney and Melbourne with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra under direction of Paul Dyer, performing Niccolò Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 4, playing with gut strings. In the tour, Sato directed Felix Mendelssohn's String Symphony No. 3 and Edvard Grieg's Holberg Suite Op. 40. The live concert in Melbourne was recorded and broadcast by ABC Classic FM, and in February 2017 it was released in CD from ABC Classics.[22] In November 2016, Sato performed Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons with Concerto Köln, which was recorded live in Kempen, Germany and was released by Berlin Classics.[23]

On 11 May 2017, Sato was appointed the 6th artistic director of the Netherlands Bach Society (Nederlandse Bachvereniging) beginning on 1 June 2018, succeeding Jos van Veldhoven.[24]

In April 2019, Sato received the 31st Music Award in Classical Music/Solo Performance by the Japan Music Pen Club.[25] From 28 September to 6 October 2019, as the 6th artistic director of the Netherlands Bach Society, Sato led a concert tour with the ensemble in Kyoto, Kanagawa, Hiroshima, and Tokyo Japan.[26]

On 1 January 2020, Mainichi Shimbun published the 61st Arts Awards recipients, including Sato, based on his leadership of The Netherlands Bach Society's Japan tour and his J. S. Bach unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas recitals in Tokyo, Kyoto, Yokohama, Saitama, Hiroshima.[27] [28] Later that month, the Record Geijutsu Journal awarded Sato the 57th Record Academy Award Silver Prize, the highest prize as a soloist, highly evaluating his unaccompanied solo works by J. S. Bach, released the year prior.[29] In March, the Agency for Cultural Affairs announced the 76th Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Awards in Arts, which recognized Sato as a recipient of the Newcomer Award in Arts.[30] On 11 December 2020, Sato officially debuted as a conductor at the AVRO TV live televised concert of Netherlands Bach Society at TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht, Netherlands.[31]

In April 2022, Sato conducted St Matthew Passion, leading the Netherlands Bach Society as the first tour after COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands lockdown.[32]

In January, February and June 2023, Sato, Clive Brown, and Concerto Köln participated in "Historical Performance Practice of the 19th Century – Romanticism".[33] [34] [35] [36] [37] In March, Sato conducted the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra for works in the Classical and Romantic Periods, and also performed Violin Concerto No. 8 by Louis Spohr.[38] On 30 May 2023, Sato resigned as the concertmaster, soloist, and artistic director of the Netherlands Bach Society after a farewell concert. He said that he desired to play other kinds of music but was hindered by his obligations to the Bach Society.[39]

Discography

TitleDetails
Eugène Ysaÿe

Six Sonatas for Solo Violin

  • Recorded: August 2004
  • Released: January 2005
  • Label: Live Notes
  • Formats: CD

Daily Yomiuri The Best New CD of the Month (February 2005)
The Asahi Shimbun The Critics' Recommendation (February 2005)
Mainichi Daily News The Critics' Choice (February 2005)

Preludes: Favorite Miniatures
  • Recorded: November 2005
  • Released: March 2006
  • Label: Live Notes
  • Formats: CD
  • Pianist: Takashi Sato
Edvard Grieg

Complete Sonatas for Violin and Piano

  • Recorded: June 2007
  • Released: October 2007
  • Label: Live Notes
  • Format: CD
  • Pianist: Takashi Sato

Grand Prize awarded by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, 62nd National Arts Festival 2007[40]

Shunske Sato Plays: Violin and Viola Solo Sonatas by Akira Nishimura
  • Recorded: March 2007
  • Released: March 2008
  • Label: Camerata
  • Format: CD
  • Composer: Akira Nishimura
Paganini

24 Caprices

  • Recorded: January 2009
  • Released: April 2009
  • Label: UCJ Japan
  • Format: CD

Daily Yomiuri The Best New CD of the Month (May 2009)
Mainichi Daily News The Critics' Choice (May 2009)
CD Journal The Choice of the Month (May 2009)
Record Geijutsu The best album of the month (June 2009)
Early Music America Magazine (Volume 17, Number 4, Winter 2011): IN CONCLUSION Hats Off, Gentle People! Is the Revolution Over? (by Anthony Martin)

Joseph Haydn

Oxford, Violin Concerto No. 1, Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 Hidemi Suzuki & Orchestra Libera Classica, Shunske Sato

  • Recorded: 24 October 2010
  • Released: 26 May 2011
  • Label: Arte Dell'arco Japan
  • Format: CD

Daily Yomiuri The Recommended New CD of the Month (June 2011)

Georg Philipp Telemann

12 Fantasias for Violin without Bass

  • Recorded: December 2011
  • Released: 31 July 2012
  • Label: Live Notes
  • Format: CD

The Record Geijutsu: The Editor's Choice (October 2012)
The Ongakuno Tomo: The Best New Cd of the Month (September 2012)
Daily Yomiuri The Best New CD of the Month (August 2012)
The Asahi Shimbun The Critics' Recommendation (August 2012)
CD Journal: Editor's Choice (September 2012)

Reissued edition:

  • Released: 20 December 2020
  • Label: Live Notes
Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven: Haydn Symphony No. 67, Mozart Violin Concerto No.1, Beethoven Symphony No.4 Hidemi Suzuki & Orchestra Libera Classica, Shunske Sato
  • Released: 20 October 2014
  • Label: Arte Dell'arco Japan
  • Format: CD
Antonio Vivaldi

The Four Seasons Concerto Köln & Shunske Sato

  • Released: 18 November 2016
  • Label: Berlin Classics Germany

The Best Classical Music Album of the year by Deutschlandradio[41]
The Best Classical Album of the year by Junge Weld[42]

The Romantics - Grieg Paganini Australian Brandenburg Orchestra & Shunske Sato
  • Released: 3 February 2017
  • Label: ABC Classics Australia
Bach: Violin Concertos Shunske Sato, Il Pomo d'Oro (orchestra), Zefira Valova
  • Released: 26 October 2018
  • Label: Rhino Warner Classics

The Record Geijutsu: The Editor's Choice The best album of the month (December 2018)
Gramophone: Editor's Choice (January 2019)[43] [44]

Étienne Méhul, Ludwig van Beethoven, Joseph Haydn: Méhul Opera "Stratonice" Overture, Beethoven Violin Concerto, Haydn Symphony No.94 Hob.I:94 "Surprise" Hidemi Suzuki & Orchestra Libera Classica, Shunske Sato
  • Released: 7 May 2019
  • Label: Arte Dell'arco Japan

The Record Geijutsu: The Editor's Choice (August 2019)
The Asahi Shimbun The Critics' Recommendation (July 2019)[45]

Johann Sebastian Bach

J.S.Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin / Shunsuke Sato

  • Recorded: 1–4, 31, May, 2 June 2017
  • Released: 1 August 2019
  • Label: ACOUSTIC REVIVE

The Record Geijutsu: The Editor's Choice The best album of the month (November 2019)
The Ongakuno Tomo: The Best New Cd of the Month (November 2012)
The Asahi Shimbun For Your Collection Classic The Best Disc (17 October 2019)[46]
Daily Yomiuri The Best New CD of the Month (17 October 2019)[47]
CD Journal: The Choice of the Month (27 August 2019)[48]

Concertos 4 Violins Concerto Köln, Shunske Sato, Mayumi Hirasaki, Evgeny Sviridov, Jesús Merino-Ruiz.
  • Released: 28 August 2020
  • Label: Berlin Classics Germany

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ensemble – Bach . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230210054815/https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/ensemble . 2023-02-10 . 2023-03-20 . Netherlands Bach Society.
  2. Web site: Notable Alumni – Central High School . 2024-05-09 . en-US.
  3. Book: Sand, Barbara Lourie . Teaching Genius: Dorothy DeLay and the Making of a Musician . Hal Leonard Corporation . 2005 . 9781574671209 . 82 . en.
  4. Web site: Youth Concert Artists Alumni . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071112120659/https://yca.org/ . 2007-11-12 . Youth Concert Artists.
  5. News: Bargreen . Melinda . 1999-05-21 . Gifted Prodigies Make A Magical Evening Of Music . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160324224242/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19990521&slug=symp21 . 2016-03-24.
  6. Web site: Билетомск Звучание Востока April 2008 . 21 September 2010 . 24 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160324060455/http://www.biletomsk.ru/news-detail-1404.html . dead .
  7. News: Kozinn . Allan . 2000-10-24 . IN PERFORMANCE: CLASSICAL MUSIC; A Young Violinist, Beyond Technical Prowess . en-US . . live . 2023-03-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612213337/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/24/arts/in-performance-classical-music-a-young-violinist-beyond-technical-prowess.html . 2018-06-12 . 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: Fulker . Rick . 2002-03-19 . Shunsuke Sato at the Beethoven Festival 2001 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210516052903/https://www.dw.com/de/shunsuke-sato-at-the-beethoven-festival-2001/a-469530 . 2021-05-16 . Deutsche Welle.
  9. Web site: ページが見つかりません. 日本音楽財団.
  10. Web site: Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions. Answers.
  11. Web site: Wir über uns | Bach-Archiv Leipzig. www.bach-leipzig.de.
  12. Web site: MDR KULTUR - Aktuelle Nachrichten und Empfehlungen zur Kultur für Sachsen, Thüringen und Sachsen-Anhalt | MDR.DE. www.mdr.de.
  13. Web site: ja:平成22年度(第65回)文化庁芸術祭賞の決定について . 2010 (65th) Agency for Cultural Affairs Art Festival Award Decisions . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110630143422/http://www.bunka.go.jp/ima/press_release/pdf/22_geijutsusai.pdf . 2011-06-30.
  14. Web site: Karlin . David . 2011-10-14 . Shunské Sato and the Academy of Ancient Music serve a dazzling Paganini . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220929025221/https://bachtrack.com/review-shunske-sato-academy-of-ancient-music-paganini . 2022-09-29 . bachtrack.
  15. Web site: Shunske Sato concertmeester van De Nederlandse Bachvereniging.
  16. Web site: Biografie - Concerto Köln. www.concerto-koeln.de.
  17. Web site: The result of the auditions 2012.
  18. Web site: 2013-11-20 . Violinist Shunske Sato to join the Early Music Department as a guest teacher . https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084223/http://www.ahk.nl/en/conservatorium/news/news/archive/article/titel/shunske-sato-gastdocent-aan-de-afdeling-oude-muziek/ . 2014-08-19.
  19. Web site: "Izumi Hall Calendar 2013 Dec" . 17 August 2014 . 30 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140730001541/http://www.izumihall.co.jp/english/concerts.html?y=2013&m=12 . dead .
  20. Web site: Andreas Staier(fp) with Shunské Sato(vn) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221129234745/https://www.toppanhall.com/en/concert/detail/201312111900.html . 2022-11-29 . Toppan Hall.
  21. News: Kaptainis . Arthur . 2015-08-09 . Review: OSM's classical spree a success . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201070654/https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/music/review-osm-classical-spree . 2021-12-01.
  22. Web site: Album Release.
  23. Web site: The Four Seasons : Berlin Classics. berlin-classics-music.com. en-GB. 2017-06-23.
  24. Web site: 2017-05-11 . SHUNSKE SATO NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE NETHERLANDS BACH SOCIETY . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171231155414/https://www.bachvereniging.nl/index.php/en/page/3934l . 31 December 2017 . 31 December 2017.
  25. Web site: 2018年度 第31回ミュージック・ペンクラブ音楽賞決定!!. ja. 2023-08-14.
  26. Web site: Tourblog Japan – Bach .
  27. Web site: 社告:第61回毎日芸術賞 毎日新聞.
  28. Web site: 第63回毎日芸術賞を贈呈 .
  29. Web site: ja:レコード・アカデミー賞 受賞ディスク一覧 2019年度 - 音楽之友社 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210628175123/https://www.ongakunotomo.co.jp/m_square/record_academy_total/2019.html . 28 June 2021 . 26 December 2020.
  30. Web site: 令和元年度(第70回)芸術選奨文部科学大臣賞及び同新人賞の決定について | 文化庁 .
  31. Web site: Kerst met de Nederlandse Bachvereniging - Bach, Schütz, Corelli ea. - AVROTROS Vrijdagconcert - Live - YouTube . .
  32. Web site: 2-16 April 2022. CONDUCTED BY SHUNSKE SATO ST MATTHEW PASSION 02 APRIL-16 APRIL 2022 Netherlands Bach Society.
  33. Web site: Professor Clive Brown at Leeds University, UK.
  34. Web site: February 3, 2023. Practical Romanticism – High tuning and gut strings with Shunske Sato and Kinnon Church Concerto Köln YouTube Community Post . .
  35. Web site: Jun 3, 2023. "French Romanticism and Performance Practice of the Late 19th Century" with Clive Brown Concerto Köln YouTube Community Post . YouTube.
  36. Web site: Jun 6, 2023. "Performance Practice Against the Background of German Romanticism" with Clive Brown Concerto Köln YouTube Community Post . YouTube.
  37. Web site: Jun 4, 2023. Our version of Bruckner's 4th Symphony explained by Shunske Sato. Concerto Köln YouTube Community Post . YouTube.
  38. Web site: March 20, 2023 . Shunske Sato and the Tokyo Symphony breathe life into Spohr.
  39. Web site: June 1, 2023 . Netherlands Bach Society YouTube Community Post . .
  40. Web site: ja:平成18年度(第61回)文化庁芸術祭賞受賞一覧 (参加公演) . 2006 (61st) Agency for Cultural Affairs Art Festival Award List (Participating Performances) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120324031957/http://www.bunka.go.jp/geijutsu_bunka/01geijutsusai/pdf/h18_h21.pdf . 2012-03-24.
  41. Web site: Dasche . Claudia . 2016-12-16 . Das beste Klassikalbum . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232414/https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/das-muss-man-2016-gehoert-haben-5-das-beste-klassikalbum.2177.de.html?dram%3Aarticle_id=374102 . 2019-01-21.
  42. Web site: Listen der Vernunft. 31 December 2016. junge Welt.
  43. Web site: Review .
  44. Web site: The best new classical albums: January 2019 .
  45. Web site: For your Collection クラシック音楽:朝日新聞デジタル . 18 July 2019 .
  46. Web site: For your Collection クラシック音楽:朝日新聞デジタル . 17 October 2019 .
  47. Web site: キングインターナショナル . 18 October 2019 .
  48. Web site: E-onkyo musicではじめる ハイカラ ハイレゾ生活 [注目タイトル Pick Up] フレーミング・リップスのめくるめくサイケデリック・ワールド / 清楚な声の持ち主、アンナ・ルチア・リヒターのソロ・デビュー作がすごい! - CDJournal .