Chisako Takashima
Violinist
Born：Tokyo
Birthday：August 24
Born in Tokyo, Chisako Takashima started learning the violin at the six of age, and since then she has studied under Tsugio Tokunaga, Toshiya Eto and Syoko Aki. After completing her high school and university at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, she entered the Yale School of Music with a scholarship in 1991, where she received a Master of Music degree and graduated with an Artist Diploma degree. In 1994, she joined the New World Symphony (NWS) at Miami, an orchestra under the artistic direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. She made her sensational Japan debut in May 1995, releasing her first CD, and two years later she moved back to Japan to establish her firm musical career as a violinist. she has been challenging for various performance styles such as a classical concert series “Mezamashi Classics” produced by herself and the Fuji Television announcer, Shinichi Karube, a violin and piano duo “CHISA&MINO” with a composer-pianist, Mino Kabasawa, and a trio with violoncello. Respecting the ‘unplugged’ sound of the wooden violin, she holds over 100 concerts per year, obtaining a large number of new classical music fans around Japan. In October 2005, she authored her first book publication “Violinist no Ongaku Annai ~Classic Meikyoku 50sen” (“A Music Guidance by a Violinist~50 Selected Masterpieces”) (PHP Shinsho) and “Chisiki Zero kara no Classic Nyuumon” (“An Introduction to Classical Music from Zero Knowledge”) (Gentousha). In 2006, she produced a violin ensemble group “Takashima Chisako 12 Violinists”, which attracted a big attention from the publics. In May 2008, she toured around Japan with I Solisti Filarmonici Italiani string ensemble, and in December with Berlin Philharmonic Violin Ensemble. This November, she has authored her third book publication “Takashima Chisako no Meikyoku Annai” (“Chisako Takashima’s Guidance to Masterpieces”) (PHP Shinsho). While focusing on performance activities, she also shows her talent in other fields by producing various concerts and appearing on numerous TV shows and radio shows.
ストラディバリウス（1736年製）
It was actually more than 20 years ago when I first met Lucy. I heard that my brother’s friend had a Stradivarius, so I went to see it with my brother. The first impression was something like “Wow, the real thing is very beautiful. What kind of sound would it make? Who would be the next owner?” I dared to even dream of owning it someday, and this experience even made my distance to the Stradivarius further.
And I met Lucy again when I had been happy performing with my “Logeri” which I paid for out of my own pocket. Long time no see, and the first time trying it. I was so excited to experience the electrifying sound, but after I played it, deep down I was like “What? This is it?” In the back of my mind, I thought my Logeri was better, but it IS Stradivarius, so I replied vaguely and said “What a wonderful instrument. But it’s far from my reach…” But after hearing from so many people about the strength and the possibilities of the Stradivarius, I started to think that I made my choice not to buy it too easily. Since then, I could not stop thinking about Lucy and thought “I will never see her again if I leave her now” and so on. And with the support from my husband who is an instrument lover, I jumped in at the deep end. Please read my book “Violinist’s guide to the music” for the next episodes.
Since Lucy came to me, she has never had any injuries or illnesses. Instruments from 300 years ago usually break down in the winter because of the dry weather, and in the summer because of the high humidity and you end up going back and forth between the repair shop, but Lucy has been a very healthy, good girl. But if you don’t play it just for a day, just like the hermit crab hides inside the shell, the sound does not come forward. “Sorry, I am busy with lots of things” I complain to her, but after I face her for a while, she starts making the beautiful sound unpretentiously and straightforwardly. I try not to depend on just her abilities, but I try to use different techniques. Through a trial and error process, it seems like our relationship is getting better and better. She is such a good girl. It will be a longstanding relationship, right Lucy? Thank you Lucy!