by Mona Seghatoleslami
How do a Czech string quartet and a Japanese-American pianist communicate in rehearsals? For pianist Michiko Otaki and the Graffe String Quartet, when words are needed in addition to the music, the answer to communication challenges is German!
Michiko Otaki teaches music at Clayton University in Atlanta Georgia. She also travels extensively a performer, collaborating with groups from around the world, including the Graffe String Quartet from the Czech Republic.
The Graffe Quartet and Otaki will be performing twice in West Virginia this week as part of their current US tour.
They will visit Huntington for a MUsic Alive concert on Friday November 7th at noon, where they will perform Schumann’s Piano Quintet and string quartets by Haydn and Beethoven.
They also play in Charleston on Saturday November 8th, performing at 7pm on the Charleston Chamber Music Society concert series. In Charleston, they’ll play Dvorak’s Piano Quintet and a Haydn string quartet.
Listen to my interview with pianist Michiko Otaki
Listen to a concert they played during a previous tour (recorded by WUFT Classic 89)