Best Concert Halls

Isaac Stern was among the most distinguished of the world's violinists. He achieved a strong rapport with his audience through his own personality and his visible love for the music, with an unerring command of the proper style for each work in his exceptionally wide repertoire. His technique was impeccable, his tone strong and warm, though not rich. He performed and recorded virtually the entire standard violin repertoire, including most of the many great violin concertos of the 1930s: those of Hindemith, Berg, Prokofiev (No. 2), Walton, Bartok (No. 2) and other works, some quite contemporary.

Born in Kaganawa Prefecture, Naoko Terai began practicing the violin at the age of four. In 1986, she made her professional debut as a jazz player and gradually her talent and sense of music drew attention of the other jazz musicians. In 1995, a pianist, Kenny Barron invited her to join the recording of his album, “Things Unseen”, which was release in November 1997 on Polydor Records. She tool part on an increasingly broad range of musical activities, performed in many live houses and joined the recordings of a number of albums as a guest player.