Extracts from the wonderful Japanese reviews of Kyoko's CD 'La Danse des B...'
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"A disc overflowing with vitality it brings out all the works' qualities. ...After the refinement and fluidity of Bach come the perfume of Brahmsian romanticism and the introspection and intensity of Beethoven. The performance of the Beethoven work proves to be really exceptionally brilliant. Hashimoto senses a melancholy in Blumenfeld which she expresses very movingly at certain points. As for Bartók, his combination of power and simplicity is realised with great boldness, and what's more with subtlety. She invests every note she plays with tremendous significance."
Kyoko Michishita, 'Chopin' magazine, May 2014
"....as I listened to (the Bach) I realised this was no ordinary pianist. Similar individuality of feeling is to be found in the other pieces: a special charm which holds one spellbound. One does not encounter pianists of her quality very often. ...I feel the Bach is the best, while the Bartók is also exceptional, and the Beethoven and Brahms make one want to listen to them again and again as well. She is a pianist I really want to hear live as soon as possible." Recommending a gold medal rating.
Jiro Hamada, 'Record Geijutsu', May 2014 "A vivid impression is created by the orchestral sonority she draws from the instrument, the strong rhythmic feeling and the improvisatory yet natural contours that she produces. The way she contrasts the different waltzes in the Brahms is quite marvellous. ....Richly exploiting the variety of colours that the pianist knows how to produce, this is a CD full of warmth and inspiration." Haruka Kosaka, 'Bravo' magazine, June 2014 |
Review of recital at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Concert Hall, 27th December 2009
Schubert: Impromptus, D.935; Debussy: Preludes, book II
recorded by Nami Records and issued on CD as Live Notes WWCC - 7664
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"Tonight's concert ….has made it clear that Kyoko Hashimoto is an international concert pianist of the highest class. It also brought home to us very powerfully that the Hashimoto of this period is a special presence on the musical scene: standing completely outside the framework of so-called 'Japanese pianists' and able to articulate European music in the language of a European. Her Schubert, with a sure grasp of the structure of the work and moments of dramatically overflowing emotion, unfurled with a naturalness of expression that made the audience forget the passing of time. In Debussy, a fitting choice of repertoire, Hashimoto's acute sensibility married to her refined expressive powers clearly illuminated abstract mental images within the subtle and sharply delineated narrative. I was mesmerized by this outpouring of pure, rich fantasy. Performances this convincing simply demand attention and hold great promise of successes to come. "
- Ryuichi SHIBATA 'Musicanova' English translation: Moeno Wakamatsu, David Edwards |