The Tokyo String Quartet will perform at the Dalton Center Recital Hall on the campus of Western Michigan University this Thursday starting at 8pm. They will perform pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann using a rare set of Stradivarius instruments from the 17th century valued at collecting and loaned by the Nippon Foundation. The quartet has been performing for over 40 years and received seven Grammy nominations for their over 40 albums. They are known worldwide for playing both classical and contemporary works.

1. Tokyo String Quartet
Sean R. Montera
This Thursday, string concert enthusiasts have the treat of watching the Tokyo String
Quartet performing at the Dalton Center. The concert will take place in the Recital Hall on
Western Michigan Universities’ campus starting at 8 pm.
“They are a fabulous quartet,” says Mary Lam-Rodrigues director of Marketing and
Communications for Fantana Chamber Arts, who is present concerts at the Dalton Center.
“We’re really happy to have them for our opening this year.”
The quartet plans to perform a variety of pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann.
These pieces, which are both technically and musically challenging, will display an extraordinary
range in skill and musical intent, spanning a century of music.
The quartet plays on a special set of instruments called Stradivarius, of which there are
only six complete sets left in the world. This set includes two violins, a viola, and a cello. These
instruments were made between 1680 and 1736. Only 650 of these instruments are known to
have survived to this day according to the Smithsonian Institute. These instruments are on loan
from Japanese Nippon Foundation, since 1995, who purchased them from the Corcoran Gallery
of Art in Washington D.C. says the Fontana website.
“The Foundation buys these instruments,” says Lam-Rodrigues, “and loans them to top
artists in the world. Only six (full) quartets were made that still exist today. We’re very lucky to
be hearing a complete set.”
“Antonius Stradivarius,” says Bruce Uchimura, music director and conductor of
WMU’s symphony Orchestra, “was a famous violin maker from Cremona, Italy that lived in the
1600's. His instruments are highly desired by collectors and musicians.”
“I am looking forward to hearing them with the present members,” says Professor
Uchimura, who has met both past and current members of the quartet.
“I actually studied Chamber Music with the original first violinist,” continues Uchimura,
“Koichiro Harada when he taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music.”
According to the quartet, this particular set was once owned by Niccolo Paganini.
Paganini was known as one of the preeminent violin virtuosos of the 19th
century according to
many historical sources.
The quartet has recorded over 40 albums on various labels and received seven Grammy
nominations. They have also been featured on several television programs including “CBS
Sunday Morning,” PBS’s “Great Performances,” and “Sesame Street.” They are known as an
exceptional ensemble throughout the world playing both new and classical works.

2. The quartet which originally formed in 1969 now includes Martin Beaver and Kikuei
Ikeda, who both play violin, Kazuide Isomura on viola, and Clive Greensmith on cello. Beaver,
who is currently on the faculty at the Steinhardt School at New York University, is their newest
member having joined the quartet in 2002. Ikeda, who came to the United States in 1971, has
studied with renowned names such as Dorothy DeLay and other members of The Juilliard School
of Music. Isomura is one of the founders of the Tokyo String Quartet and also studied at
Julliard. Greensmith, who is also a faculty member of New York University, joined the quartet
in 1999.
All four member have had distinguished solo and ensemble careers before becoming
members of the quartet. This past experience has enabled the quartet to work with a surprisingly
large variety of contemporaries.
According to the quartets website, they are scheduled to play at the Schubertide Festival
in Schwarzenber Austria next summer. In July the quartet played in the international Pacific
Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan and at the Edinburgh Festival in August. In the past they have
played in a variety of countries in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Tickets can be purchased in advance on the Miller website or at the door to Miller
Auditorium for between $22 and $30 or with a student ID for $5. For more information in the
Quartet you can visit their website at www.tokyoquartet.com, or www.fontanachamberarts.org.