TONIGHT! MATA Presents: Amane Sakaguchi with Kodak Quartet +Juliet Schlefer (Soprano) and Yoko Reikano Kimura

The New York Premiere of AMANE SAKAGUCHI’s “in place of the blade” for String Quartet and Soprano

Tuesday, April 28 at 7:30 PM

Tickets: Pay-What-You-Wish ($30 Suggested Donation)

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PROGRAM:

須磨の浦 Suma-no-Ura (2019) “The Bay of Suma” by Amane Sakaguchi

shamisen and voice

“In Place of the Blade” (2026) by Amane Sakaguchi (a Kyo-Shin-An Arts commission)

soprano and string quartet

Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 7 in F-sharp minor, Op. 108

(Q & A immediately following the program)

Featured Artists:

Juliet Schlefer (Soprano)

Celebrated soprano Juliet Schlefer is an avid recitalist and new music specialist known for her "superb" storytelling. A graduate of the University of Michigan and a recipient of the Friends of Opera Award, Juliet has garnered acclaim for roles ranging from Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen to contemporary works by Saariaho and Messiaen. In "in place of the blade," she navigates the complex inner transformation of the samurai narrative, bringing soaring vocal clarity to this intimate acoustic setting.

Yoko Reikano Kimura (Voice)

A koto and shamisen master who has performed in over 20 countries, Yoko Reikano Kimura is a global advocate for Japanese traditional instruments. Hailed by The New York Times for her "superb" playing and singing, she has graced stages from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to the National Theatre of Japan. As the co-founder of Duo YUMENO and a recipient of the Kyoto Aoyama Barocksaal Award, her deep expertise provides the authentic resonant core for this program’s exploration of legacy and sound.

Amane Sakaguchi (Composer & Shamisen)

Composer and shamisen master Amane Sakaguchi first encountered the story of the warrior Naozane and the boy Atsumori in a high school literature class. Originally composed as a Nagauta (traditional Japanese vocal music), she has now reimagined this 13th-century epic into the contemporary language of the string quartet. Her work focuses on the human caught between obligation and emotion, using tactile "wave imagery" to mirror the internal turbulence of a warrior discovering a flute—not a blade—on his fallen opponent.

Kodak Quartet (Ensemble)

Praised for their "electrifying eye contact and rhythmic flexibility," the award-winning Kodak Quartet (Edgar Donati, Martin Noh, Daniel Spink, and Blake Kitayama) is a leading force in New York’s chamber music scene. Winners of the 2023 Frances Walton and Coltman competitions, they have performed alongside industry titans like the Kronos Quartet and JACK Quartet. They bring their signature high-octane energy to the New York Premiere of Amane Sakaguchi’s newest score, bridging the gap between historical tradition and modern performance.

Partnering Organization

MEG FAGAN (Founder and Producer of Kyo-Shin-An Arts )
For 17 years, Kyo-Shin-An Arts has pioneered the integration of Japanese instruments into Western classical music. Having commissioned over 38 composers and premiered more than 75 new works, they introduce audiences to the virtuosity of the koto and shamisen within the context of the contemporary chamber ensemble. This partnership with MATA highlights their ongoing mission to foster adventurous collaborations and provide a platform for pioneering voices like Amane Sakaguchi

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