Born in Tokyo, Chiéko Yokoyama-Tancke, started to take piano lessons at the age of four, and later on studied at Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo with Prof. Jan Horák and Prof. Vlado Perlemuter. She studied and specialized in French Piano Literature with Prof. Mrs. Kazuko Yasukawa, who was honoured with the order of „Légion d’honneur“.

As a piano soloist, Yokoyama took part in the Musashino High School orchestra tour through Germany and participated at the 29th Beethoven Festival in Bonn.

In 1980 she continued her studies at the Hochschule der Künste, Berlin with Prof. Klaus Hellwig. In the same year she won the final at the „Rina Sala Gallo“ international contest in Monza and in 1981 she received a prize at the „Ettore Pozzoli“ contest in Seregno, Italy. In 1983 she completed her studies with honours.

Besides her work as a music teacher, she regulary takes part in concerts as solo pianist or chamber music pianist. She plays in concerts in partnership with members of the Berlin Philharmonic, the German Symphony Orchestra, Berlin as well as with others including the Polyphonia Wind Ensemble of Berlin. She also plays with members of the orchestra of the German Opera, Berlin and the Konzerhaus Orchestra Berlin as well as lieder companies.

Together with the Haydnquartett (Vienna) she has performed at several concerts in Schloss Glienicke (Berlin). Her repertoire ranges from baroque to contemporary music.

Pianist Alexander Malter was born in Moscow. During his student years with Tatjana Nikolajewa and Oxana Jablonskaja at the Tschaikovsky Conservatory his piano playing already gave evidence of the “beauty of sound, based on great musicality and individual warmth of tone” later praised by Arvo Pärt (the Estonian composer). After graduating in 1969 he intensified his concert activities as piano soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. By the mid1980s, concert engagements from the West were also numerous. In 1991 Malter moved to Germany, where he continues to be a much sought-after player. As well as the works of compatriots Tschaikovsky, Skyrabin, and Rachmaninov his particular strengths also include Bach, Haydn, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Chopin and Liszt, in addition to contemporary music. With Christian Stadelmann and Dietmar Schwalke, he plays in the Vincent Trio of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Alexander Malter is co-founder and artistic director of the concert series at the Glienicke Castle in Berlin. In 2007 they celebrated their 10th anniversary. Since 2005 he has also been the artistic director of the International Festival of Chamber Music "Festival de música clásica Port de Soller" in Mallorca.

Among numerous CDs and radio recordings the well-rehearsed CD “Alina”of the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt which appeared on ECM label, is among the international bestsellers. Also noteworthy is his double CD from 2006 with works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann and Chopin, which comemorates the 100th Birthday of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His latest CD with music influenced by Arvo Pärt for the Hollywood production "Fireflies in the Garden” was recently recorded on the Decca label.

www.alexandermalter.com

An artist of immensely promising talent, Evelina Dobraceva began singing under the tuition of Professor Norma Sharp, Snezana Brzakovic and Professor Julia Varady at the Hanns Eisler Music College in Berlin, and she has participated in masterclasses with Professor Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Professor Thomas Quasthoff and Peter Konvitschny.

Ms. Dobraceva is a highly sophisticated singer whose dramatic artistry captivates her audience.

She has been on a tour to Japan with the Deutsche Staatsoper (Donna Anna in 'Don Giovanni') conducted by Daniel Barenboim, has sung Margarita Songs by Lokshin with the Virtuosi Moskvi conducted by Rudolf Barshai, Beethoven 9 conducted by Alexander Anissimov and Emma in 'Khovanshina' at the Bayerische Staatsoper.

Adding to her list of successes, she has just recorded the Dargomyzhki's Rusalka with the WDR in Cologne conducted by Mikhail Yurovsky.

The 2008 Verbier Festival proved to be another highly successful engagement for Evelina, earning her much praise for her performance as Fiordiligi in 'Cosi fan Tutte', a role which she will reprise with the Toulon Opera next season. Other recent engagements also include a concert performance of Lokshin's 'Margarita's Songs' with the Orchestra Verdi in Milan, under the direction of Rudolf Barshai and Strauss 'Four Last Songs' with the Royal Liverpool PO conducted by Robin Ticciati,

Other future engagements include Micaela in 'Carmen' Violetta in 'La Traviata' and Vitellia in 'Clemenza di Tito' at the Cologne Opera, a Gala concert with the Deutsche Radio Philarmonie, Britten's 'War Requiem' with Vara Radio, Shostakovitch Opus 127 - Seven Verses for Alexander Blok with the ‘Storiana Trio’ at Der Doelen Hall, Beethoven 9 with the Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra and the Verdi Requiem at the Moscow Conservatoire and with the Noord Nederlands Orkest.

Rainer Sonne, born 1950 in Göttingen, (Germany) ist since 1976 member of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

“To be an orchestral musician is a wonderful occupation. For me, my work is a pleasure (almost) every day.”

His father put a violin in his hand when he was a child. Rainer Sonne knuckled down and made it his instrument. His musical studies were undertaken with Igor Ozim at the Cologne Musikhochschule, and he received further training in master classes with Max Rostal, Sándor Végh and Nathan Milstein. In 1975 he entered the Mozart competition and won it. Sitting on the jury was Thomas Brandis, First Konzertmeister of the Berliner Philharmoniker, who informed him that a Konzertmeister position in his orchestra had become vacant and invited him to an audition. Sonne got the job. Since then he not only plays in the orchestra but is also active as a soloist and in chamber music. For 15 years he played with the Philharmonic Soloists; he now is in the Philharmonic Piano Quartet, Divertimento Berlin and – as leader – the Charis Ensemble. Rainer Sonne, who enjoys reading, travel and sport, teaches at the Orchestra Academy and has been a guest professor since 2006 at Berlin’s Universität der Künste.

Awards:
Prize-winner in the German national “Young Musician” competition (1966), Winner of the Würzburg Mozart Competition (1975)

Charlottenburger Bach Soloists Berlin

The Charlottenburg Bach Soloists Group was  founded in 1998 by members of the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper in Berlin. They mainly play music from the period  1650-1800, and are particularly committed to play on modern instruments. The main ensemble of flute, violin, cello and harpsichord when appropriate is complemented instrumentally and vocally.