Musical Opinion Jan/Feb 2007
The piano duet recital given by Joseph Tong and Waka Hasegawa at the Wigmore
Hall on 24th November, presented by the Kirckman Concert Society, was interesting
programme of established masterpieces for the medium alongside a new work
by the British composer Edwin Roxburgh, who, amazingly it seems, celebrates
his 70th birthday this year. He certainly does not begin to look his age
and the perennial youthfulness of his musical work betokens a mind constantly
refreshed by a young outlook. The work in question, receiving its World
Premiere, was Homage to Debussy, a splendid piece in three movements, each
suggested as it were by one of the French master's works, Roxburgh's titles
being Jardins sur la neige, L'Isle enchantée and Reflets dans la
Glace, the music suffused by a welcome neo-Impressionism, underpinned by
a strong sense of contrapuntal writing and keyboard colouration, especially
in the second piece. The performance greatly pleased the composer and was
keenly enjoyed by the large and appreciative audience.
Earlier, the recital had begun with two works by Schubert, the Allegro in A minor and the great F minor Fantasie, and in the second half we heard Debussy's own Six Epigraphes Antiques followed by the original first piano duet version of La Mer, which was orchestrated a few month later. These were both outstandingly well played.
(Robert Matthew-Walker)
Morpeth Herald 29 November 2006
Full house for piano recital
Piano 4Hands, Joseph Tong and Waka Hasegawa, gave a stylish and sensitive
performance which demonstrated their immaculate technique in this second
concert of the Morpeth Music Society season. There was a full house for
the recital which opened with Mozart Andante- the duo giving an impeccable
and lighthearted performance of this evergreen of the duet repertoire.
Their mood changed radically with Schubert's Lebenssturme, meaning "Life's
storms", in which passion, tragedy and peace were portrayed vividly.
Joseph then performed the primo part in Schubert's Fantasie, his luminous
playing of the opening theme upholding his comment that this work is considered
to be the greatest piano duet ever composed. Edwin Roxburgh's Reflets dans
la Glace ended the first half. A new sound world was created here, especially
when the composer used chord clusters. One felt the temperature drop below
freezing in this music.
The second half was devoted to Debussy, starting with Six Epigraphes Antiques,
which showed a close affinity to his earlier piano music. Then came Marche
Ecossaise, commissioned by General Meredith Reid in 1891 who supplied the
Scottish March theme which Debussy followed in the subsequent composition.
The final piece in the programme was La Mer, a wonderful evocation of the
ebb and flow of the sea in all its moods and is better known in its orchestrated
version, however it was the duet that came first.
After a long and enthusiastic applause plus a short encore the audience
allowed the artists to leave the stage bringing an end to a memorable concert.
T.D.
Croydon Advertiser 10 November 2006
Joseph Tong and Waka Hasegawa have the reputation of being one of British's
most exciting piano duos and their concert in aid of St. Matthew's Church,
Addis Ababa, confirmed this.
The musical items were well balanced, beginning with Mozart's Sonata in
F major, KV497. Mozart wrote the piece to play with his sister Nannerl
and the performers pick up and repeat the same music in delightfully different
ways. Next came Debussy's La Mer, which he described as three symphonic
sketches, but really this is un urgent three-movement symphony in all but
name.
The second half gave us a specially commissioned piece composed by Matthew
Rogers called Swing and Roundabouts. It was simplistic, repetitive, discordant
and modern. It ran for nine minutes, but I would like to hear it again
because it got to me.
Schubert's Fantasia for piano duet, D940 provided a reversal with Waka
playing secondo and Joseph the primo. Schubert's piano sonatas were his
musical notebooks but this non sonata is of parallel stature and our pianists
gave it full value. Finally we had Three Slavonic Dances by Dvorak, who
did not use folk tunes but his music is so steeped in their turns of phrase
that real Bohemian folk music often sounds false.
(Peter Steptoe)
York Evening Press May 2006
NEW music is no longer tough, trying or just plain terrifying-quite the
opposite. That was the refreshing conclusion from two concerts in the University's
Spring Festival of New Music. The duo-pianists Joseph Tong and Waka Hasegawa
offered the British keyboard premiere of two scenes from John McCabe's
ballet suite Edward II, with taut, springy syncopation that was supremely
physical.
They also included two works inspired by Ovid's Metamorphoses. Paul Robinson's
Eris, for piano duet, was less facinating in its relentless momentum than
for its meditative centre and the "beats" of its heavy final
chords.
Nicola LeFanu's new Echo and Narcissus exquisitely conjures a watery environment.
It was impossible not to smile at its clear reflections, its delicate echoes
and -above all-its quivering ripples, all shot through with drama and delightfully
nuanced by the players.
Coming at the end of a largely percussive programme, it was refreshment
indeed.
(Martin Dreyer)
The Shoreham Herald 20th October 2006
Sometimes two pairs hands are better than one. This proved true last Sunday
at the Steyning Centre in an Adur Arts concert hosted by composer Chris
Gander.
Performing on a Steinway piano that gave as good as it got, the English
pianist Joseph Tong and Japanese partner Waka Hasegawa gave it plenty.
The nationally acclaimed couple declared "it did all they wanted it
to do". They sat us bolt upright with piece one, Schubert's Lebensturme,
continuing with this composer's sublime Fantasy, "one of the greatest
duets ever written" said Joseph. The world premiere of Chris Gander's
Piano Duo Fortissimo, was written for the duo. Not an easy piece but very
uplifting. We remained on a high with two Dvorak Slavonic Dances.
The second half continued with Edwin Roxburgh's sparkling Reflets dans
la Glace (2002) and Debussy's Six Epigraphs Antiques. At the last, a tangle
of hands breathed life into Debussy's La Mer, a complicated piece he wrote
originally for piano before he orchestrated it. It evoked the sea in all
its capriciousness. The couple encored with a fetching Scottish piece by
Debussy to complete a hugely satisfying concert full of drama, subtlety
and passion.
(Janet Lawrence)
Bristol Evening Post October 2004
Joseph Tong and Waka Hasegawa were making their first appearance at St
George's in the second recital of the Thursday Lunchtime Series. It is
not often one hears piano duets on one instrument and it is important on
these occasions that the two players know exactly what the other is doing.This
was certainly the case with this duo. Mozart's Sonata in F opened slowly
with gentle harmonies being replaced later in the movement with more turbulent
chords. A hushed Andante led into the sprightly Allegro in which the nimble
fingers of both artistes were particularly evident. Schubert's Fantasia
in F-Minor is the composer's best-known piano duet and was written in the
last year of his life. Like so many of his piano pieces it is not technically
challenging but demands an acute sensitivity from both players. Cast in
four sections there is a marvellously tuneful opening with a dramatic largo.An
assertive scherzo and a defiant finale shoed the duo's ability to convey
a variety of feelings in a compelling account of this masterly work. Ravel's
La Valse, in the arrangement for piano duet, expects the pianists to put
in a tremendous effort and this was definitely so in their powerful performance.
Star Rating ****
(John Packwood)
Croydon Advertiser July 2004
'There's a new piano duet in town and it's worth listening out for.Joseph
Tong and Waka Hasegawa formed their partnership in 1997 and have been busy
garnering critical praise and prizes ever since. I heard them on Radio
3's In Tune recently and looked forward to hearing them live.
It was no disappointment. Their combined energy spent musical sparks across a wide radius. Schubert's Lebenstsuturme is a dark work of great contrasts and these two didn't miss a trick in conveying that. It was the sort of playing that keeps you on the edge of your seat and we all stayed on ours through the next item, also by Schubert. Variations on an Original Theme in A flat was full of the same sort of contrasts but less familiar, proving a veritable whirlwind of notes.
Edwin Roxburgh's Reflets
dans la Glance, a work rewarding for players and listeners alike, dates from
2003. The composer imaginatively made considerably dramatic use of the full
range of the piano. He was present and was acknowledged enthusiastically by the
audience.
Dvorak's Two Slavonic Dances may be pot-boilers but were an
arrangement of Ravel's La Valse and the sparkling finale of Faure's Dolly
Suite. Star rating****
(Howard Thomas)
Musical Opinion Magazine July 2003
“Joseph Tong and Waka Hasegawa gave a splendidly vital programme of music
for four hands at the Wigmore Hall on 5 February. Mozart’s great
Sonata in F major K 497 was played with sensitivity as well as verve.
Schubert’s rarely-heard Variations on an Original Theme D 813 found these
artists in tune with the composer’s poetic vision, and Debussy’s Petite
Suite was vibrant with colour.In sharp contrast we heard a virile account
of Brahms' Variations on a theme by Schumann.Ravel’s piano duet version
of La Valse brought this rewarding evening to a spirited conclusion.”
The West Briton Dec 2002
“A wonderful display of virtuosity carried off with complete confidence,
skill and musicality”
The Times Jan 2002
"Precision-tooled piano duettists"
The Guardian Jan 2002
“The
sparky piano duet of Waka Hasegawa and Joseph
Tong”
Sunday Times, the Critical List, Jan 2002
“Brilliant new performers”