Japanese classical duo thrill music fans

Accra (Greater Accra), 22 Jan. '99 -

A cross-section of Ghanaians and expatriates were last night treated to a two-hour session of European classical music by two Japanese musicians at the National Theatre in Accra as part of this year's Japan-Ghana Friendship Week.

With Ryotaro Ito on violin and Koji Okamoto on piano, the duo played compositions by world-acclaimed composers from Italy, France, Germany and Spain.

Their repertoire comprised Brahms' sonata for piano and violin in D minor, Debussy's sonata for violin and piano, Beethoven's piano sonata in D minor titled "Tempest", Vitali's Chaconne in G minor and Concert Fantasies on Carmen by Pablo de Sarasate, a Spanish.

In a joint statement, the classical duo noted that, with the "tumultuous changes" currently taking place in the world, "we need to recognize the value of respective cultures to study one another's cultures and make efforts to develop them".

They hoped to incorporate works of African composers into their collection.