Nobuhito Nakai & Miwako Takeda Piano Duo Pianoduo Miwako Takeda & Nobuhito Nakai

The only piano duo in Japan, and extremely rare worldwide, to have won awards in competitions affiliated with the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC) for both their solo and duo performances. After both completing their studies at Tokyo University of the Arts and the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich, the husband and wife furthered their studies at the Mozarteum University Salzburg. They studied piano duo with Prof. Alfons Kontarsky. Forming their duo in 1999, they began their full-fledged duo activities that same year, starting with three consecutive recitals in the USA after winning an award at the Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition (USA). They have also performed numerous piano duo recitals across Japan, earning high praise such as "a true duo that Japan can be proud of, and brilliant musicians." They have released four duo CDs, including "Fantasy," which was selected as a special recommendation by Record Geijutsu magazine. Their music has also been broadcast on ANA international in-flight audio programs. They have appeared on NHK-BS TV's "Meikyoku Tantei Amadeus" and "Piano Pia," and FM's "Meikyoku Recital." They have also been featured on the cover of the music magazine "Chopin" for their series and piano duo special features. In recent years, they have performed at music festivals in France and undertaken recital tours in Germany, where they were lauded in newspapers with the highest praise, described as "musical art worthy of being bestowed with the title of knight." They were awarded the Takehiko Kurushima Culture Prize in 2014. Both are Fukoku Life Partner Artists.

Website: nakai-takeda.com

From German Recital Tour Newspaper Reviews

• "The audience was simply astonished and overwhelmed by the breadth, depth, sublimity, and transcendent scale of their firmly connected, fresh musical dialogue."
• "It is almost inevitable that two individuals with such distinct characteristics and musicality, bound by strong teamwork and profound mutual understanding, would produce truly blissful performances. For over ten years, in their four-hand dialogue within a confined space, they have demonstrated a deep, deep harmony of spirit to the audience."
• "Their broad and rich expressiveness, lyrical quality, and the power with which they sometimes caress the piano with a gentle, delicate touch, and at other times make it resonate powerfully and divinely from the earth, overwhelmed the audience."

Nobuhito Nakai

Studied in Germany as a DAAD scholarship recipient. His awards include:

• 3rd Prize at the Music Competition of Japan
• 2nd Prize and Audience Award at the International Brahms Competition
• 1st Prize, Chamber Music Prize, and Lieder Accompaniment Prize at the Senigallia International Piano Competition
• 3rd Prize at the Viotti International Music Competition '97 (Vercelli)
• Diploma at the Prague Spring International Music Competition
• Top prize at the Mavi Marmara International Piano Competition

He studied with Morio Tozawa and Mutsuko Tozawa, Susumu Umetani, Katsumi Ueda, Gerhard Oppitz, and Karl-Heinz Kämmerling. He has frequently performed with orchestras both in Japan and abroad, including with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra under Gary Bertini, and at the W. Kempff 100th Anniversary Beethoven Piano Concerto Cycle (Italy). He released the CD "Brahms." He is currently Associate Professor at Toho Gakuen School of Music and Visiting Professor at Nagoya College of Music.

Miwako Takeda

Her awards include:

• 1st Prize in the Hokkaido region and 2nd Prize in the East Japan region of the All Japan Student Music Competition (High School Division)
• 3rd Prize and Special Jury Prize at the Maria Canals International Music Competition
• 3rd Prize at the Viotti International Music Competition '98 (Vercelli)
• Various prizes at other international competitions such as Palma d'Oro, Rome, Mazara del Vallo, Mavi Marmara, and Ennio Porrino

She studied with Hirotsune Murata, Kaori Mizuta, Katsumi Ueda, Michael Höltzel, and Alfons Kontarsky. She has performed with orchestras such as the RAI National Symphony Orchestra (Italy) and the Oradea Philharmonic (Romania). Her Mozart performances have been praised by world authorities such as Ingrid Haebler and P. Lang. She released the CDs "Miwako Takeda Plays List" and "Cantando Angelico." She is a lecturer at Ueno Gakuen University and Omiya Koryo High School.