The Yale School of Music announced yesterday that two members of the Tokyo String Quartet, which has been in residence at the school for 35 years, plan to retire from the ensemble. Violist Kazuhide Isomura, who’s been with the quartet since it was formed at The Juilliard School in 1969, and violinist Kikuei Ikeda, who joined the ensemble in 1974, will leave the group in June 2013.
Robert Blocker, dean of the Yale School of Music, was quoted as saying: “Kikuei Ikeda and Kazu Isomura made transformative contributions to the School and to its renowned chamber music program for more than 35 years. Throughout their time in the Tokyo Quartet, they and their colleagues have earned international acclaim for their artistry and their passion for the quartet literature.”
With recordings that have been celebrated the world over, the Tokyo String Quartet has long been considered one of preeminent quartets performing today.
YSM Photo
Clockwise from left: cellist Clive Greensmith, violinist Kikuei Ikeda, violinist Martin Beaver, and violist Kazuhide Isomura
A statement posted yesterday on the group’s website reads: “Many of you have been supporters since the late 1970s, when The New York Times called the Tokyo “one of a handful of young ensembles breathing fire into the quartet world.” Kazu is the one remaining founding member, with Kikuei joining shortly after. With their departure, they leave their indelible stamp on the Tokyo’s DNA. Martin and Clive, who have been with the quartet for 10 and 12 years, respectively, are profoundly grateful for having had the privilege of playing alongside such passionate, supremely talented colleagues.”
Through Dana Astmann, the Yale School of Music’s manager of concerts and public relations, violinist Martin Beaver and cellist Clive Greensmith said: “We are immensely proud of our colleagues Kazuhide Isomura and Kikuei Ikeda and feel a deep sense of gratitude for their longstanding passion, vision, and commitment to the Tokyo String Quartet. Our lives have been made all the richer and immeasurably enhanced by their tireless devotion. Their collegiality, professionalism, and love of music will be sorely missed. We feel not only a great sense of duty but also tremendous excitement and anticipation as we continue our quest to convey the greatness of the quartet literature with renewed vigor and passion.”
Also through Astmann, Isomura said: “As a founding member of the ensemble, I have performed with the Tokyo String Quartet for more than 40 years, which has been fascinating, intense, and very satisfying. … I have faith that Martin Beaver, Clive Greensmith, and the new members of the Tokyo String Quartet will be very successful and continue to perform great chamber music together.”
Ikeda said: “I would like to thank my colleagues and our audiences for their wonderful support over the past 37 years. I have always loved chamber music, and I will continue to teach and perform through the next phase of my career.”