The Reformed Church of Monaco hosted a new Voûte Concert that transported audiences to Japan through an elegant and deeply expressive musical programme…
Following previous evenings dedicated to the harp, trumpet and original themed recitals, this latest concert placed Japanese culture firmly in the spotlight, with two exceptional guest artists guiding listeners on a refined musical journey.
Pianist Ui Kajiwara and violinist Rennosuke Fukuda, both originally from Okayama and now based in France, performed a carefully curated repertoire blending Japanese compositions with strong European influences. Their programme opened with a work by Japanese composer Akira Yuyama, whose writing reflects clear inspiration from French musical traditions, before moving through pieces that highlighted the dialogue between East and West. For this concert, the artistic directors of the Voûte series chose not to perform themselves, giving the entire stage to their guests and allowing the duo’s musical identity to take full focus.
Fukuda, who trained in Europe, described his approach as one that prioritises the composer’s context, colour and cultural background, rather than national labels alone, creating what he sees as a natural symbiosis between Japanese heritage and European musical language. The result was an immersive experience that carried the audience from Monaco to the Land of the Rising Sun and back again through sound alone.
The Voûte Concerts series continues on 21 February, with an evening dedicated to Brazilian composer Antonio Santana, promising another distinctive cultural voyage through music.
Image: Monaco Info
