NISHIZAKI, TAKAKO

Education
As a child, Takako Nishizaki studied with her father, Shinji, the co-founder of the Suzuki Method and with Shinichi Suzuki himself. She was the first student to complete the now famous Suzuki course and was awarded a teacher's diploma at the tender age of nine.

She started performing in public at age 5 and, before she was 10, had already played for artists such as Isaac Stern and Sir Malcolm Sargent as well as the French author, Georges Duhamel, who wrote about this experience in his book about Japan.

Subsequently, she studied with Broadus Erle and Hideo Saito at Toho Conservatory in Tokyo. In 1962 she went to the United States and first studied with Broadus Erle at Yale and then with Joseph Fuchs at Juilliard. Other teachers at the time included Louis Persinger (sonata classes) and Aldo Parisot (chamber music).

While at Juilliard, Takako Nishizaki was awarded the Fritz Kreisler Scholarship, established by the great violinist himself. Among her sponsors was Alice Tully.

Competitions
In 1964 she won Second Prize at the Leventritt International Competition (behind Itzhak Perlman) and in 1969 First Prize in the Juilliard Concerto Competition (performing Mozart?s Sinfonia Concertante with Nobuko Imai).

Concert Career
Her success at the Leventritt International Competition launched her concert career, initially only in the United States but subsequently internationally.

Takako Nishizaki performed in concert with many international orchestras, among them the Sydney Symphony, the Melbourne Symphony, the New Zealand Symphony, the Central Philharmonic in Beijing, the Shanghai Symphony, the Polish National Radio Symphony, the Moscow Symphony, the Ukraine State Symphony, the Slovak Philharmonic, the Orchestre National de Lille, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Singapore Symphony and many orchestras in the United States and her native Japan.

Takako Nishizaki performed and recorded with pianists Andras Schiff, Jeno Jando, Wolf Harden, Alexander Zakin, Michael Ponti, Koon-Woo Paik and others.

She performed in chamber music ensembles with Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Nobuko Imai, Ko Iwasaki, Maria Kliegel and others.

She appeared at the Sofia, Prague Spring, Bath, Chautauqua and Beijing International festivals and participated in the Australian and New Zealand international chamber music festivals.

Jury member of Major Competitions
Takako Nishizaki also serves on the juries of major international violin competitions including the Fritz Kreisler ( Vienna ) , Michael Hill ( New Zealand ) and Hannover competitions.

Recording Career
Takako Nishizaki is one of the most frequently recorded and among the best-selling violinists of all time. Her recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons was named the 8^th best-selling classical CD of all time with sales exceeding 1,000,000 copies to-date. Her recordings of the Butterfly Lovers Concerto by He and Chen sold more than three million copies in the People's Republic of China and throughout South-East Asia.

Including her recordings of Chinese music, Takako Nishizaki has recorded more than 100 CDs to date.

For RCA she recorded the complete Sonatas of Grieg and a CD with short pieces by Fritz Kreisler and for Telefunken, Camerata and Marco Polo ten discs with works by Kreisler.

Also for Marco Polo, she recorded a large number of rare violin concertos, by Anton Rubinstein, Louis Spohr, César Cui, Charles de Bériot, Respighi and Joseph Joachim.

For Naxos, she has recorded Vivaldi's Four Seasons, the complete works for Violin and Orchestra by Mozart (including the Haffner Serenade), Beethoven, Bach and Tchaikowsky as well as the concertos of Brahms, Bruch and Mendelssohn. The Vivaldi, Bach, Brahms/Bruch and Tchaikovsky/Mendelssohn recordings were awarded Platinum Discs (for sales in excess of 100,000 copies each world-wide).

Also for Naxos, she recorded the complete sonatas for Violin and Piano of Mozart (on six CDs) and Beethoven (on four CDs) as well as the sonatas of Grieg and Franck.

Many of her concerto and sonata recordings were awarded the highest *** rating by the authoritative Penguin Guide to Compact Discs.

Music for the Mozart Effect
Takako Nishizaki's recordings of the Mozart violin concertos and violin sonatas were chosen for the CDs accompanying the famous book.  When the CDs were release in the United States they became the best-selling classical CDs at the time, with total sales exceeding 1 million copies.

Chinese Repertoire
Since settling in Hong Kong in 1974, Takako Nishizaki has become the best-known and best-selling performer of Chinese violin music. In addition to the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (which she recorded seven times with Japanese and Chinese orchestras as well as with the New Zealand Symphony and the Singapore Chinese Folk Orchestra) she has performed and recorded concertos dedicated to her by Du Ming-Xin and Chen Gang. She also recorded a large number of shorter pieces with piano accompaniment but also accompanied by distinguished performers on Chinese instruments such as pipa (Chinese lute) and zheng (Chinese zither) as well as duos with Chinese er-hu (fiddle) virtuosi.

She was awarded a Golden Violin by Pacific Music in Canton in 1982 (for her work in promoting Chinese music internationally) and in 1998 received an award by the Chinese Musicians Association for her service to Chinese music (following a televised concert at the first Beijing International Music Festival).

Also in 1998, Takako Nishizaki performed the Butterfly Lovers at a Gala Concert given by the Mayor of Shanghai at the new Grand Theatre in Shanghai.

China Central Television produced several feature programmes devoted to her life and career in Chinese music, the latest in 1999.

Other Asian Repertoire
In 1982 Takako Nishizaki recorded a CD of Thai melodies with American Pianist Bruce Gaston which became the best-selling ever CD of a classical artist in Thailand.

International Awards
In 2001 Takako Nishizaki was awarded the Golden Merit Award of the Republic of Austria in recognition of her service to music in general and to Austrian music in particular.

In 2003 Takako Nishizaki was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Government of Hong Kong for her service to music and her community service.

In 2005, Newsweek (Japan) named her among the 100 Japanese the world most admires.

Charity Activities
Takako Nishizaki has taken part in numerous charity concerts in Hong Kong, among others for the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and for TVB.

Personal Information
Takako Nishizaki now lives in Hong Kong with her husband but has a second home in Auckland, New Zealand. She travels frequently and her favourite cities are Sydney, Vienna and San Francisco.

Her greatest passion after music is good food and she is herself an excellent cook. She also enjoys red wine with a preference for French and New World pinot noir.

Her only son, Henryk (named after Wieniawski) now works for the family company, HNH International Ltd., in Hong Kong.

October 23, 2005

Albums featuring this artist are available for download from ClassicsOnline.com
101 GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS, Vol. 1	8.551141
101 GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS, Vol. 3	8.551143
101 GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS, Vol. 4	8.551144
101 GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS, Vol. 5	8.551145
101 GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS, Vol. 6	8.551146
101 GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS, Vol. 7	8.551147
101 GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS, Vol. 8	8.551148
101 GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS, Vol. 10	8.551150
A LA DECOUVERTE DU CLASSIQUE	8.550037-38
A TO Z OF CLASSICAL MUSIC	8.555319-20
ADAGIO - The Ultimate Collection	8.570015-16
ADAGIO 1	8.550994
ALBINONI / BARBER / HANDEL (UK)	8.554584
ANDANTE - Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556606
BACH (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552103-04
BACH FOR MEDITATION	8.557650
BACH, J.S. (THE BEST OF)	8.556656
BACH, J.S. / VIVALDI: Violin Concertos	8.553231
BACH, J.S.: Adagio	8.552242
BACH, J.S.: Best of Bach (The)	8.551106
BACH, J.S.: Romantic Bach (The)	8.552212
BACH, J.S.: Romantic Bach (The)	8.570077
BACH, J.S.: Violin Concertos	DVDI 0991
BACH, J.S.: Violin Concertos, BWV 1041-1043 (Nishizaki)	8.550194
BALLADE - Classics Favourites for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556604
BAROQUE FOR MEDITATION	8.557792
BEETHOVEN (THE BEST OF)	8.556651
BEETHOVEN (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552105-06
BEETHOVEN / MOZART: Violin Sonatas / Piano Trio	8.553253
BEETHOVEN: Adagio	8.552240
BEETHOVEN: Best of Beethoven (The)	8.551101
BEETHOVEN: Piano Trios 'Ghost' and 'Archduke'	8.550442
BEETHOVEN: Romantic Beethoven (The)	8.552213
BEETHOVEN: Romantic Beethoven (The)	8.570078
BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto / Romances Nos. 1 and 2	8.550149
BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto / Sextet	8.571008
BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonatas Nos. 5 and 9	8.550283
BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonatas Nos. 6, 8 and 9	8.571013
BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonatas Nos. 6-8	8.550286
BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonatas Op. 12, Nos. 1-3	8.550284
BEETHOVEN: Violin Sonatas Opp. 23 and 96 / 12 Variations	8.550285
BERCEUSE - CLASSICS FOR RELAXING AND DREAMING	8.556610
BERIOT: Violin Concertos Nos. 1, 8 and 9	8.220440
BERIOT: Violin Concertos Nos. 1, 8 and 9	8.555104
BEST OF BACH (THE)	8.551106DX
Best of Chinese Evergreens	8.225923HDCD
Best of Chinese Evergreens Vol. 1	8.225912SACD
Best of Chinese Pop Evergreens	8.225912
BEST OF NAXOS 1	8.550001
BEST OF NAXOS 2	8.550002
BEST OF NAXOS 4	8.550004
BEST OF NAXOS 5	8.550005
BEST OF NAXOS 6	8.550006
BEST OF NAXOS 7	8.550007
BRAHMS (THE BEST OF)	8.556659
BRAHMS / BRUCH: Violin Concertos	8.550195
BRAHMS: The Best of Brahms	8.551109
BRAHMS: Violin Concerto / BRUCH: Scottish Fantasy	8.571016
BRIDE'S GUIDE TO WEDDING MUSIC (A)	8.503134
BRIDE'S GUIDE TO WEDDING MUSIC (A)	8.557246-47
BRIDE'S GUIDE TO WEDDING MUSIC FOR CIVIL CEREMONIES (A)	8.570227-28
BRUDKAUPSTONLIST (Wedding Song List)	8.557562
'Butterfly Lovers' Music and Dance Film (NTSC)	2.220002
CAFE CLASSICS (AUSTRALIA ONLY)	8.555258-59
CANTABILE - CLASSICS FOR RELAXING AND DREAMING	8.556605
CENTRE (THE), Vol. 1	8.554901-02DX
CHEN / HE: Butterfly Lovers Concerto / ZHANG / ZHU: Parting of the Newly Wedded	82031
CHEN / HE: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (The)	8.223350
CHEN / HE: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (The)	8.554334
CHEN / HE: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (The) / BREINER: Songs and Dances from the Silk Road	6.110082
CHEN / HE: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (The) / BREINER: Songs and Dances from the Silk Road	8.225972hdcd
CHEN / HE: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (The) / BREINER: Songs and Dances from the Silk Road	8.557348
CHEN / HE: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (The) / CHU: The Yellow River Piano Concerto	8.223488
CHEN / HE: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (The) / CHU: The Yellow River Piano Concerto	8.223495G
CHEN / HE: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (The) / VIVALDI: Four Seasons Ctos	8.225956
CHEN / HE: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (The) / YIN: The Yellow River Piano Concerto	8.223495
CHILDREN'S CLASSICS - LULLABY	8.554912DX
CHILL WITH BACH	8.556786
CHILL WITH BEETHOVEN	8.556790
CHILL WITH VIVALDI	8.556779
Chinese Popular Hits for Violin and Orchestra: Love for a Man who Never Comes Home	8.223584
Chinese Popular Hits for Violin and Orchestra: Love is Like a Mysterious Dream	8.223661
CHRISTMAS - A Classic Christmas: Songs of Praise	8.555292
CHRISTMAS (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.570344-45
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 5	8.556625
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 7	8.556627
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 10	8.551160
CINEMA CLASSICS, Vol. 10	8.556630
Cinema Violino - Takako Nishizaki	8.225971HDCD
CLASSICAL FAVOURITES	8.550521
CLASSICAL FAVOURITES (Den Klassiske Onskekonserten)	8.503129
CLASSICAL INSPIRATIONS, Vol. 2	8.551236
CLASSICAL MOMENTS 2: Classical Music for Love	8.555358
CLASSICAL MOMENTS 3: Classical Music to Relax to	8.555359
CLASSICAL MOMENTS 5: Classical Music to Dine to	8.555361
CLASSICAL MOMENTS 6: Classical Music to Study to	8.555362
CLASSICAL MUG (THE)	8.557089DX
Classical Music Start-Up Kit, Vol. 1: 1500-1825	8.550779
Classical Music Start-Up Kit, Vol. 2: 1825-1945	8.550835
CUI: Suite Concertante Op. 25 / Suite Miniature Op. 20	8.220308
DISCOVER CHAMBER MUSIC	8.558206-07
DISCOVER CLASSICAL MUSIC	8.550008-09
DISCOVER THE CLASSICS, VOL. 1	8.550035-36
DISCOVER THE CLASSICS, VOL. 3: The Concerto	8.554486-87
EASTER ALBUM (AN)	8.570175-76
Elegie: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556612
ELGAR (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552133-34
Etude: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556611
Family Symphony	8.557479DX
FOOD OF LOVE (THE)	8.554590
Four Seasons and Other Famous Concerti	8.554582
FRANCK / GRIEG: Violin Sonatas	8.550417
FROM SHANGHAI WITH LOVE	8.225968
GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS 1 (Australia)	8.570036
GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS 3 (Australia)	8.570038
GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS 4 (Australia)	8.570039
GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS 5 (Australia)	8.570040
GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS 6 (Australia)	8.570041
GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS 7 (Australia)	8.570042
GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS 8 (Australia)	8.570043
GREAT ORCHESTRAL CLASSICS 10 (Australia)	8.570045
GRIEG (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552123-24
HONG KONG - A Metropolis of Wonders	8.225937
HOREN - LERNEN - WACHSEN: Music for Babies and Children	8.551218
IMMORTAL BEETHOVEN	8.551165
Intermezzo: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556616
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL NZ 2001	8.555883
JOACHIM: Violin Concerto No. 3 / Overture 'In Memoriam Heinrich von Kleist'	8.220190
JOACHIM: Violin Concerto No. 3 / Overtures, Opp. 4 and 13	8.223373
JOACHIM: Violin Concerto No. 3 / Overtures, Opp. 4 and 13	8.554733
KLASSIK HIGHLIGHTS - Music for the 20th Anniversary of Naxos	8.550020
KRAUS: Violin Concerto / Olympie / Azire	8.570334
Largo	8.550950
Lark Ascending (The): Violin Showpieces	8.553509
Let's Have a New Start - Takako Nishizaki	8.223981
Liebesleid: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556615
MAGIC OF SPRING (THE)	8.557785
Marco Polo - The Label of Discovery: Sampler 1	8.223001
Marco Polo Sampler (2 CDs)	MP-2000-1/2HDCD
MEDITATION	8.571075
Meditation: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556614
MENDELSSOHN (THE BEST OF)	8.556660
MENDELSSOHN : The Best Of Mendelssohn	8.551110
MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto in E Minor / TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto in D Major	8.550153
MINUETTO - 1999 CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS	8.554662
MIRACLE OF SUMMER (THE)	8.557998
MOONLIGHT CLASSICS	8.550223DX
MOZART - Fran underbarn till mastare	8.503181
MOZART (THE BEST OF)	8.556653
MOZART (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552111-12
MOZART FOR MEDITATION	8.557548
MOZART FOR MEDITATION	8.557651
MOZART: Adagio	8.552241
MOZART: Best of Mozart (The)	8.551103
MOZART: Colours of Mozart	8.551238
MOZART: Haffner Serenade, K. 250 / March, K. 249	8.550333
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 21 / Violin Concerto No. 5	8.550293
MOZART: Romantic Mozart (The)	8.552211
MOZART: Romantic Mozart (The)	8.570076
MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 3 / BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D Major	8.553232
MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 4 / Sinfonia Concertante	8.550332
MOZART: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2	8.550414
MOZART: Violin Concertos Nos. 3 and 5	8.550418
MOZART: Violin Concertos Nos. 4 and 5 / Rondo	8.571045
MOZART: Violin Sonatas, K. 378, K. 376 and K. 296	8.550065
MOZART: Violin Sonatas, Vol. 1	8.553110
MOZART: Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2	8.553111
MOZART: Violin Sonatas, Vol. 3	8.553112
MOZART: Violin Sonatas, Vol. 4	8.553590
MOZART: Violin Sonatas, Vol. 5	8.557664
MOZART: Violin Sonatas, Vol. 6	8.557665
Music for Violin and Guitar	8.220165
MYSTERY OF AUTUMN (THE)	8.557791
NAXOS 15TH ANNIVERSARY CD	8.555964
NIGHT MUSIC 2	8.556816
NIGHT MUSIC 4	8.556818
NIGHT MUSIC VOL. 2	DVDI 1025
NIGHT MUSIC, VOL. 4	8.551124
NIGHT MUSIC, VOL. 10	8.556824
Night Music, Vol. 11	8.551131
NIGHT MUSIC, VOL. 5	8.556819
NIGHT MUSIC, VOL. 6	8.556820
NIGHT MUSIC, VOL. 7	8.556821
NIGHT MUSIC, VOL. 8	8.556822
NIGHT MUSIC, VOL. 9	8.556823
NISHIZAKI, Takako: Fritz Kreisler Edition, Vol. 1	8.557867
NISHIZAKI, Takako: Fritz Kreisler Edition, Vol. 10	8.557876
NISHIZAKI, Takako: Fritz Kreisler Edition, Vol. 2	8.557868
NISHIZAKI, Takako: Fritz Kreisler Edition, Vol. 3	8.557869
NISHIZAKI, Takako: Fritz Kreisler Edition, Vol. 4	8.557870
NISHIZAKI, Takako: Fritz Kreisler Edition, Vol. 5	8.557871
NISHIZAKI, Takako: Fritz Kreisler Edition, Vol. 6	8.557872
NISHIZAKI, Takako: Fritz Kreisler Edition, Vol. 7	8.557873
NISHIZAKI, Takako: Fritz Kreisler Edition, Vol. 8	8.557874
NISHIZAKI, Takako: Fritz Kreisler Edition, Vol. 9	8.557875
NISHIZAKI, Takako: Russian Romance	8.225900
O Sole Mio: Classic Love Songs for Violin and Orchestra	8.223586
PASTORALE - Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556608
PERFECT AUTUMN WEDDING	8.557978
PERFECT SPRING WEDDING	8.557976
PERFECT SUMMER WEDDING	8.557979
PERFECT WINTER WEDDING	8.557977
Prelude: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556607
RESPIGHI: Concerto Gregoriano / Poema Autunnale	8.220152
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV (THE BEST OF)	8.556674
ROMANCE	8.553216
ROMANTIC VIOLIN FAVOURITES	8.550125
ROMANTIC VIOLIN FAVOURITES	8.550125DX
RUBINSTEIN: Violin Concerto / CUI: Suite Concertante	8.555244
RUBINSTEIN: Violin Concerto, Op. 46 / Don Quixote, Op. 87	8.220359
Russian Romance	8.555331
SAINT-GEORGES: Violin Concertos Op. 5, Nos. 1-2 and Op. 8	8.555040
Sarabande: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556613
SENTIMENTAL CLASSICS	8.550227DX
Serenade: Classics for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556619
SEVEN AGES - An Anthology of Poetry with Music	NA218912
SMETANA: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2	8.550379
SOMMER	8.503045
SONATA - CLASSICS FOR RELAXING AND DREAMING	8.556609
SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME	8.550580DX
SPOHR: Violin Concertos Nos. 7 and 12	8.220406
SPOHR: Violin Concertos Nos. 7 and 12	8.555101
TCHAIKOVSKY (THE BEST OF)	8.556652
TCHAIKOVSKY (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552117-18
TCHAIKOVSKY : Violin Concerto	DVDI 1006
TCHAIKOVSKY: None but the Lonely Heart	8.225921
TCHAIKOVSKY: None but the Lonely Heart	8.555332
TCHAIKOVSKY: Romantic Tchaikovsky (The)	8.552216
TCHAIKOVSKY: Romantic Tchaikovsky (The)	8.570081
TCHAIKOVSKY: Seasons (The)	8.225922
TCHAIKOVSKY: Seasons (The) (arr. for violin and orchestra)	8.553510
Ten Years Of Success	8.554103
THAILAND Nishizaki and Gaston: Indra's Paradise	8.220366
THANKSGIVING - A Classic Thanksgiving: We Gather Together	8.555293
The Art of Takako Nishizaki	8.223996-97
THE BEST OF CHINESE POP EVERGREENS	8.225912G
THE BEST OF MARCO POLO	8.223002
THE BEST OF TAKAKO NISHIZAKI	8.223979
The Hall of Fame	8.225911
THE ULTIMATE LULLABY COLLECTION	8.570514-15
Three Wishes of the Rose - Everlasting Chinese Love Songs	8.223427
VANHAL: Violin Concertos in G major, B flat major, and G major	8.557815
VIOLIN FANTASIES	8.571091
VIOLIN MINIATURES	8.550306
VIOLIN MINIATURES	8.550306DX
VIVALDI (THE BEST OF)	8.556655
VIVALDI (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552101-02
VIVALDI : The Best of Vivaldi	8.551105
VIVALDI : The Four Seasons	DVDI 0996
VIVALDI: 4 Seasons (The) / Concerto alla Rustica	8.550056
VIVALDI: 4 Seasons (The) / Wind Concertos	8.553219
VIVALDI: Four Seasons (The) / Concerto alla Rustica	8.550056DX
VOCALISE - Classics Favourites for Relaxing and Dreaming	8.556602
Voices of Angels	8.503071
W.H.Smiths Vol. 2 (Children's Classics 2)	8.554572
WINTER	8.557726