Reviews

…The exotic music transports the listener into a very special world of sound, which is very interesting, even more varied than one might think at first. In this recording it benefits from the technically outstanding and very committed interpretation of the Duo Yumeno.  – Heike Quinto (composed by Daron Hagen, commissioned by Duo YUMENO)  Eine japanische Geschichte (pizzicato)  

…Yoko Reikano is clearly a virtuoso koto player. I’ve heard several recordings of koto players, but none as breathtaking as what Reikano does here, and near the end of this movement Hikaru Tamaki’s cello playing is deep, rich and beautiful. – Heike Quinto (composed by Daron Hagen, commissioned by Duo YUMENO) Daron Hagen’s Heike Quinto (The Art Lounge)

…Miura’s Three Poems was written expressly for Duo Yumeno … who premiered the work. This was spare, delicate, focused playing, each gesture full of surprise and drama. The music was graceful and exacting, the musicians careful with space and matching intonation to perfection, the better to pull the most scintillating sensations out of Miura’s microtonal passages. The composition and playing were impressive for how the dry timbres of the instruments, and Kimura’s traditional-style singing, expanded into an evocative and aptly dreamy atmosphere. – Three Poems from Kanginshu (composed by Hiroya Miura, commissioned by Duo YUMENO 2022) –  Here and Now Festival serves up five world premieres to raunch the fall Read More …

… this charming piece was a virtual encyclopedia of each instrument’s tonal possibilities and the ways they could combine, contrast, and accompany each other, realized with admirable feeling and energy by both players. – But Beautiful (composed by Takuma Ito, commissioned by Duo YUMENO) – Bargemusic rocks the new year with five premieres at Here and Now  

… Lady Day and Tony Bennett, Lena Horne and Frank Sinatra…just about everybody sung Just Beautiful (as if anybody could make the lyrics and music more bittersweet and beautiful than they are on paper). But nobody ever played Just Beautiful like the Duo Yumeno at Barge Music last night. Without a single note of the original!… – But Beautiful (composed by Takuma Ito, commissioned by Duo YUMENO) – Barge Music’s Eight Course Banquet from ConcertoNet

…Medusa’s Lair, from Marty Regan, left the strongest impression, and not only for being a piece for solo shamisen, played with focussed drive by Yoko Reikano Kimura. … Kimura conveyed the precise intensity of the piece, which spiraled into a well of drama. – Medusa’s Lair for solo shamisen (composed by Marty Regan) – New works push off at Bargemusic’s Hera and Now Festival 

…this was the most abstract work on the program and also the most intriguing…the piece had Kimura playing graceful, carefully placed lines against audio that had a strong metrical pulse and etched rhythms. – To the Victims of Cain for solo shamisen and pre-recording (composed by Yoriaki Matsudaira) – http://newyorkclassicalreview.com/2018/09/bargemusics-here-and-now-festival-opens-with-an-evening-of-eclectic-delights/

Kimura built up a head of rhythmic steam…performed with poise and verve. – The Road for solo shamisen (composed by Yoko Sato) – http://newyorkclassicalreview.com/2017/08/women-composers-and-performers-reign-at-bargemusic/

…played with precision and deep feeling by the duo – Cantabile for koto and cello (composed by Daron Hagen) – http://newyorkclassicalreview.com/2016/09/worlds-collide-and-a-quiet-gem-stands-out-at-here-and-now-festival/