Fumiaki Miura (Photo: Dan Hannen)
The young Japanese violinist Fumiaki Miura, who made his United States debut with the Utah Symphony in 2012, returns to Utah this weekend, playing Camille Saint-Saëns’ Concerto No. 3 in B minor, a work dedicated to and premiered by Pablo de Sarasate.
Under the direction of Thierry Fischer the orchestra will also play two works by Antonín Dvorák: the incidental overture My Home and the Symphony No. 7 in D minor.
There will be a performance today at 7:30 p.m. in de Jong Concert Hall in the Harris Fine Arts Building at Brigham Young University. Tickets are $20 for reserved seating, $17 for seniors and BYU alumni and $13 for students with I.D. For reservations call 801-422-4322 or log on to www.byuarts.com.
Friday and Saturday Miura and the orchestra will play in Abravanel Hall. The concerts begin at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $15-$69 and can be purchased by calling 801-355-2787 or 888-451-2787 or by logging on to www.utahsymphony.org. Tickets are $5 higher when purchased on the day of the performance.
Below is an interview that Reichel Recommends conducted with Miura via email.
RR: You made an impressive debut with the Utah Symphony two years ago. How was the experience for you?
FM: Absolutely amazing. I loved the orchestra and Abravanel Hall.
RR: For your upcoming appearance with the Utah Symphony you’ll be playing Saint-Saëns’ Third Concerto. What appeals to you in this work? Is it challenging for the violinist?
FM: It is a challenging piece for the violinist, but for me one of the best pieces by Saint-Saëns. It is simply beautiful.
RR: The last time you were here you played Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy. How would you compare that work to the Saint-Saëns concerto?
FM: Totally different. I would say Bruch is basically more romantic. But Saint-Saëns makes more dramatic contrast. I love both of them.
RR: Since you made your debut with the Utah Symphony in 2012 — which was also your United States debut — have you played with other American orchestras?
FM: Yes, after my debut with Utah Symphony, I played with San Diego Symphony, Des Moines Symphony, New Mexico Philharmonic and Eugene Symphony.
RR: What other orchestras have you played with in the past two years outside of the U.S.?
FM: I played with some Japanese orchestras and also in Europe, with Stuttgart Radio Symphony, NDR Hamburg Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic, Lausanne Chamber, etc.
RR: Have you appeared at any music festivals?
FM: Yes, last year, I played a recital at Ravinia Festival in Chicago.
RR: Before debuting with the Utah Symphony two years ago did you know Thierry Fischer in Japan?
FM: Not in person, but of course I knew him because he was a music director of Nagoya Philharmonic .
RR: You won first prize at the Hannover competition in 2009. Have you entered any other competitions since then?
FM: No I have not. Basically, I don’t like competitions. But the Hannover was definitely my start of playing concerts.
RR: Your parents are violinists. Did they want you to become a violinist, too?
FM: I don’t think so. My parents never forced me to. I’m so lucky !
RR: Who are some of the violinists that you admire?
FM: I love old violinists: Milstein, Heifetz, Szeryng, etc. And now in our time, Pinchas Zukerman and Julian Rachlin.
RR: You’ve had quite a lot of success so far in your career, and you’re still very young. What are some of the things you want to accomplish as an artist?
FM: I will continue to work on marvelous concertos, but also more chamber music. I’m lucky enough to have so many wonderful musical friends, so one day I want to make a music festival.