Hailed by international press for her readings that are “very convincing” (Fanfare Magazine) and “exceptionally high technical level” (General-Anzeiger Bonn), Misuzu Tanaka has established herself as an artist of remarkable individuality with a rare combination of poetic sensitivity and breathtaking virtuosity.
She has performed in prestigious concert venues throughout the world, from the Gewandhaus in Leipzig to Suginami Koukaidou Hall in Tokyo. She has also achieved notable success in international competitions, receiving prizes and awards in the International Janáček Competition, Boulder Bach Festival's World Bach Competition and the Daniel Rutenberg Chamber Music Competition, to name a few.  This is her sixth appearance on our Historical Piano Concerts series.

 
Her debut album, “Misuzu Tanaka in Concert”, which was recorded live on the Concertant Classics label, features works by Leoš Janáček and J. S. Bach, two composers who have been constant sources of her musical inspiration. Additionally, she has released a debut album “Epilogues” with clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov, which received excellent reviews from critics. The Shtrykov-Tanaka Duo has been described as “clairvoyant collaborators” who “serve up world-class performances” (Classics Today) and praised for having “a real affection behind the enterprise: affection for the composers and between the musicians” (MusicWeb International).

This season brings another new release “Preludes, Reflections, Resonances” where she explores major works by prominent Slavic composers Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, and Janáček, and intersperses them with selections from Rachmaninoff’s Preludes as a way to “set the stage” or as an afterthought.

Born in London, United Kingdom where she began her piano lessons at age 5, she then continued her studies in Japan and in the United States with Martin Canin at The Juilliard School. Her Masters and Doctoral degrees are from University of Michigan where she was a full scholarship recipient and devoted much time to the study and performance of the works of Leoš Janáček, which led to further studies with Miroslav Brejcha and the late Ivan Moravec in the Czech Republic.