Naoko Kasai: Colors of Sound

Pianist Naoko Kasai presents “Colors of Sound: An Evening of Piano Imagery.”

Known for her delicate touch and luminous tone, pianist Naoko Kasai, transforms the piano into a storyteller, revealing the distinct voices of four composers across time. The program opens with Haydn’s Piano Sonata Hob. XVI:52, a brilliant example of the Classical style. With its elegant phrasing, playful wit, and sparkling textures, Naoko brings out the music’s conversational charm and refined humor. Next is Beethoven’s “32 Variations in C minor,” a compact yet serious piece that demands intense concentration.

In the second half, Naoko performs Debussy’s “Images, Book II.” These pieces are rich in color and atmosphere, evoking scenes that feel almost like paintings. Within their shimmering textures, moments of profound stillness emerge—echoing a quiet, almost Zen-like sensibility. The program concludes with a selection of Chopin’s works, including waltzes, a nocturne, a ballade, and a polonaise. Here, Naoko explores the full spectrum of human emotion—joy, sorrow, passion and comfort.

About the Artist

Born in Aichi, Japan, Naoko started playing the piano at the age of six and graduated from Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo. In 1990, she moved to France to study at the Conservatoire of Tours with Charles Lilamand and later with Pierre Reach of the Conservatoire of Paris (CNR de Paris). She received the Piano Performing Diploma with “premier prix a l’unaminite” and Chamber Music Diploma from the Conservatoire of Tours. During her 4 years in France, Naoko also studied harpsichord.  She made her solo debut in Tours in 1993. Since then, Naoko has been performing as a soloist, an accompanist, and a chamber music member primarily in Tokyo and Nagoya. Those concerts include chamber music with Eckhard Seifert (violin) and Gerhard Iberer (cello) from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.