ISIN ÇAKMAKÇIOğLU AND AKEMI SCHUBERT
LUMINOUS REVERIES
8PM FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST 2024
Following their recent performance in Japan, violinist Işın Çakmakçıoğlu and pianist Akemi Schubert present Melbourne audiences an evening of dazzling sonatas by Bach, Beethoven and Prokofiev, alongside nostalgic miniatures by Kreisler, Vecsey and Glazunov.
PROGRAM
J.S. BACH Sonata BWV 1017, no.4 C minor
L.v. BEETHOVEN Sonata op.12, no.1, D major
Fritz KREISLER Romance op.4
Franz von VECSEY Valse Triste
Alexander GLAZUNOV Meditation, op.32
Sergei PROKOFIEV Sonata op.94, no.2, D major
TICKETS $40 | CONCESSION $30
ABOUT ISIN ÇAKMAKÇIOĞLU
Violinist Isin Çakmakçıoğluhas been praised by the critics for his expressive lyricism, elegance and brilliance. The Suddeutsche Zeitung (Germany) described his playing as “musical fireworks”; The Australian highlighted his depth of tone, intensity and virtuosity.
Isin was born in Germany of Turkish parents and studied in Istanbul, Vienna and London.
He performed solo and chamber music for concerts, recitals, recordings and live radio broadcasts in many countries around the globe. Isin has been a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra since migrating to Australia in 1993; he taught at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and the University of Melbourne.
As an experienced recitalist, Isin’s repertoire includes a large number of diverse works for violin and piano, ranging from sonatas to little known miniatures.
Isin’s interest in contemporary music led to continuous collaboration with composers around the world whereby he had works written and dedicated for him. He received an Australia-Korea Foundation (DFAT) grant for a concert of contemporary Korean and Australian chamber music in Melbourne, gave overseas performances of violin concertos by British composer Paul Patterson and Turkish composer Sidika Ozdil. In Japan, Isin performed Australian composer Howard Dillon’s composition for solo violin with financial support from the Australia-Japan Foundation (DFAT) and appeared in numerous ABC Classic FM broadcasts featuring works by Australian composers. His live recording of Linda Phillips’ Rhapsody Sonata is regularly on air. Isin also appears on the ABC Classic album titled Women of Note, A Century Of Australian Composers as well as on a Move Records release, 20th Century Piano Trios featuring compositions by Julian Yu and Peter Sculthorpe.
As a member of the Fidelio Quartet, Isin performed the entire Beethoven String Quartet cycle at the Melbourne Recital Centre over three years. The quartet was resident ensemble at St John’s Camberwell Chamber Music Series. In 2024 the Fidelio Ensemble is continuing their chamber music residency at Christ Church South Yarra with regular concerts.
Isin’s recent album of twelve romantic violin miniatures titled Souvenirs Nostalgiques is available on Apple Music, Spotify and other digital platforms.
ABOUT AKEMI SCHUBERT
Pianist Akemi Schubert is a well-established concert pianist and a highly sought after chamber musician, both in Australia and in her home country, Japan. She gave her debut recital in Fujisawa City at a young age and soon after that formed a duo partnership with Robert Schubert, principal clarinet of the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa in Japan, where Hiroyuki Iwaki was Musical Director. Since then Akemi performed regularly duo recitals with Mr Schubert covering a very wide range of repertoire and touring throughout Japan as well as collaborating with members of the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa in their chamber music series.
Akemi appeared regularly in recital and in live broadcast for the ABC “Sunday Live” series and for 3MBSFM as a member of the Melbourne chamber music ensemble “Ensemblinx”. She shared the stage with well-known bassoonists John and Lucinda Cran, percussionist Peter Neville & Speak Percussion and in recital with internationally acclaimed Canadian clarinettist James Campbell as well as appearing in recitals with distinguished British pianist David Ward, in music for piano four hands.
Since forming the chamber ensembles “Trio Varie” and “Ensemble Varie” with members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Akemi has been very active performing both in Melbourne and Tokyo and is being invited back to Japan every year.
Akemi performed and premiered internationally acclaimed composer Julian Yu’s works on many occasions including the premieres of his trio “Mozartiana” with Robert Schubert (clarinet) and Rachel Atkinson (cello), the world premiere of “The Little Gecko” for chamber ensemble, narrator and multimedia at the Melbourne International Conference of Alexander Technique and the Performing Arts, the Chinese premiere of “Silent and Alone” at the Shanghai International Music Festival and the premiere of “Chaconne” by J.S. Bach/ Julian Yu in Tokyo with Trio Varie. “Silent and Alone” and “Old and Yu” are two albums of Julian Yu’s works in which Akemi appears on the Move Records label.
Ms Schubert appeared at the Australian Clarinet and Saxophone Festival in Melbourne, performing with cellist Josephine Vains and clarinettists Robert Schubert, Jeremy Reynolds from the USA and David Thomas (Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Principal Clarinet) at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Past appearances include performances of Mozart’s Piano Concerto no.17 with the Kooyong Chamber Players, the Schumann Piano Quartet Op.47 with the Kegelstatt Ensemble in Adelaide with Ben Dollman, principal second violin of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, recitals with violinist Isin Cakmakcioglu of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Dvořák’s Piano Quintet and Chopin Piano Concerto (chamber music version) with Japanese colleagues in Tokyo as well as with Ensemble Varie in Melbourne. Akemi’s performance of Schumann’s Piano Quintet with Ensemble Varie at Toyosu Hall in Tokyo was praised as a highlight in one of the leading monthly Japanese classical music publications, the “Chopin Magazine”.