"Inspiring, enchanting, yes: exhilarating music." (Hamburger Abendblatt)

After its world premiere at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw with the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest and Karina Canellakis, Dai Fujikura's Double Concerto for flute, violin, and orchestra had national premieres all around Europe, including performances at Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie and in Antwerp presented by Ensemble Resonanz and Barbara Bultmann as well as in Winterthur with Musikkollegium Winterthur and Vimbayi Kaziboni.

Soloists Claire Chase and Leila Josefowicz, who stepped in for Patricia Kopatchinskaja, are praised by critics for their dynamic interplay, which created "a feather-light transparency of sound, a weightlessness of free flight of thought that was immensely impressive." (oper aktuell)

In March, the concerto will have its Japanese premiere in Kyoto presented by Claire Chase, violinist Nodoka Okisawa, and the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra led by Nodoka Okisawa.

Composer's note

In my imagination, the violin and flute soloists in this piece sometimes merge into one, like a bird flying freely in the sky. The two soar, occasionally in geometric shapes such as circles or spirals. The orchestra paints an afterimage of their flight, like a flock of birds in motion, swarming, with these two leading the way.

Although independent, the two soloists are always connected, as is the orchestra to the soloists. Together, they synchronize, a murmuration of starlings – a flock of many moving as one. Maybe that’s the essence of this piece: the swarming of birds.
Read complete composer's note

Press quotes

"The result was a feather-light transparency of sound, a weightlessness of free flight of thought that was immensely impressive. A wonderful work by Dai Fujikura, which one would like to encounter again, played by two top-class soloists."
"Thrillingly emotional duo passages by the two soloists alternate with sonic masses by the orchestra, expertly and unobtrusively conducted by Barbara Bultmann, one of the Resonanz concertmasters. Birds also flit through this piece - starlings, according to the composer. Inspiring, enchanting, yes: exhilarating music."

Score