About this album Japanese violinist Mana Shiraishi and Czech pianist Martin Karlíček formed Duo Ventapane in 2008, and have since performed together in various venues in Europe, Asia and North America. This album superbly demonstrates the talent and scope of this ensemble. Both of them possess first-class ability as soloists and have rich experience and well-honed skill as ensemble players at the same time. This unique program shows the height of their powers as a duo. Furthermore, each of them shows a deep empathy and insight for the very specific musical contents of the pieces. They succeeded in making their deeply personal interpretation with thorough understanding. Their approach, that grasps the style of the works inherently and naturally, gives us an authoritative performance without any affectation or artificiality in all four pieces. The point that aroused my particular interest is the fact that in the two Japanese works, Karlíček shows a total accord with the specific idiom of Japanese music. He never betrays any discomfort, and his performance is executed completely naturally. Especially in a work replete with ethnic color like Ifukube's, Karlíček assimilates this specific characteristic entirely through his own sensitivity and vividly depicts the essence of this strongly Japanese work. Duo Ventapane's outstanding performance in this album leaves us expecting a brilliant future for this exceptionally talented duo. Ryuichi Shibata,2013 "Excellent recording" While violin strikes clear and persuasive tones, the CD is recorded in natural and supple sound… it is a recording that one can rarely find… Record Geijutsu Magazine - Kazuto Kanzaki It is impressive that each piece is performed with expression full of confidence... sung freely with long sustained phrasing that has the power of bringing ecstasy to the listener. Ongaku Gendai Magazine - Hiroshi Yokoshima Ms. Shiraishi captures one's ears with transparent sounds… at the same time fascinates with rich and mellow colors. Mr. Karlíček expresses fully musical compositions from his homeland... grasps delicately unique atmosphere of Japanese works… Bravo Magazine - Kazuto Sasada Program on the CD: Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884): Duos “From the Homeland” for Violin and Piano - Moderato - Andantino-Moderato-Allegro Vivo Akira Ifukube (1914-2006): Sonata for violin and piano - Allegro - Cantilena. Andante - Allegro vivace Hikaru Hayashi (1931-2012): Rhapsody for violin and piano - Agitato: quasi Allegretto - Allegro: alla marcia Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959): Sonata No.3 for violin and piano - Poco Allegro - Adagio - Scherzo - Lento. Moderato. Allegro

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