Rakuto Kurano: DUPLEXITY - Christchurch: POSTPONED

Award-winning 21-year old Performer-Composer Rakuto Kurano presents DUPLEXITY, a performance featuring both classical and contemporary works for violin, viola, and piano.
The concert will be presented in Wanaka, Auckland, Oban (Stewart Island), Christchurch, Dunedin, and Timaru.

Originally from Japan, Kurano has established himself in New Zealand as a versatile violinist, violist, pianist, composer, and conductor. He is a violinist in the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and an active chamber and orchestral musician. His "energetic" playing style with "flair and panache" has connected with many audiences across the country. In 2017, he made his composer debut with the premiere of his work Angelic Glow by the NZ Harp Duo, and since then, his works have won numerous awards including the NZTrio composing competition in 2019, and the Douglas Lilburn Trust Prize in 2020.

In January 2021, he was commissioned by the Baroque Music Community and Educational Trust of New Zealand, to compose a 15-minute Concerto Grosso for the 2021 Baroque summer workshop and tour. The work was the final piece in the programme on the 11-concert tour, and was met with a standing ovation. It was deemed a “splendid work” by Peter Mechen for Middle-C, in review of its Wellington performance.

The programme features three new commissions by three young New Zealand composers: Liam Furey, Georgina Palmer, Robin Watson, as well as a work by Kurano himself.

Kurano will be joined by Professor Mark Menzies, Head of Performance at the University of Canterbury, described in the Los Angeles Times as an "extraordinary musician".

This concert is in partnership with UC Music.
With support from the Christchurch City Creative Communities Scheme.

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Rakuto Kurano is a versatile violinist, violist, pianist, composer, and conductor. He is a violinist in the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and makes regular appearances on violin, viola, & piano as a chamber/orchestral musician and soloist. He has held concertmaster positions in more than 10 orchestras throughout his life, and has orchestral experience performing for New Zealand Opera and Royal New Zealand Ballet.

Professional experience in a wide field of music ranging from Baroque to Contemporary. Experiences include touring the South Island performing on Baroque viola with international artists Szabolcs Illés and Edita Keglerová, performing in 8 cities as part of a quintet. As a contemporary music artist, he has been invited to the CANZ (Composers Association New Zealand) Nelson workshop as a violinist/violist in both 2019 and 2020 to perform new works written by living New Zealand composers.

As a recording artist, he released two singles: Fantail in Tokyo & Violin Sonata No.1 and an album: Five Bagatelles, in 2020. He also has experience playing in recordings for other artists – including UK singers Aled Jones and Russell Watson.

Solo appearances include performances in Japan, Vietnam, and around New Zealand.
In 2019, he was invited to Vietnam as a guest artist to perform for the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City. The performance was in collaboration with Vietnamese celebrity singer Nguyễn Phi Hùng, and was broadcasted by numerous Vietnamese news outlets, gaining national attention.

As a multi award-winning composer, his works have been performed by professional artists such as NZTrio, NZ Harp Duo, and Mark Menzies.
In 2021, he was commissioned by the Baroque Music Community and Educational Trust of New Zealand to compose a 15 minute Concerto Grosso for the 2021 Baroque summer workshop and tour. The work was the final piece in the programme on the tour, and was met with a standing ovation. It was deemed a “splendid work” by Peter Mechen for Middle-C, in review of its Wellington performance.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in performance and composition from the University of Canterbury in 2020, studying with Professor Mark Menzies, Dr. Reuben de Lautour, and Dr. Justin DeHart.