Concerts

As much as we like to play in all sorts of settings, Ozeki Zabuton Concerts, at our own Kayabuki Ongaku-do, to go on tours of abandoned high schools in Hokkaido, PTA happenings, ceremonies at universities, dinner shows, museums, all of these appearances proving the point that it does not take a magnificent hall to do a magnificent concert, we also, of course, very much like the magnificent halls of Japan with their world famous acoustics, their excellent pianos, their educated audiences. Over the years we have played in most of the great halls and look forward to all the new halls, being built constantly, one more advanced than the other. Often we get to do the opening concert for a new hall, a special honor that we very much appreciate. Many of the halls are built in the country side, sometimes in the middle of rice fields.

Usually they are extremely well equipped, but lack for funds to carry on a meaningful concert series of classical music. After the initial excitement at the first concerts, they are degraded to Karaoke boxes and the expensive concert grand pianos are rarely used. All the more we are happy to play in these halls, showing the beauty of four hand piano playing, the possibilities of chamber music and orchestral arrangements for two pianists at one keyboard. Since we are well known throughout Japan through the media, we usually have a full house of curious people, curious at first, but then responsive and enthusiastic.

Sometimes we are asked to play a series of concerts. For instance: The Ozeki Sake Brewery has been very helpful to us. For many years they have freely supplied us with 2 of the best of their products, the Genmai-shu or Genmai-wine, (brewed with brown rice and wine yeast) and “Hana Awaka”, a bubble kind of sake, to be served during intermissions in our concerts at the Kabyabuki Ongaku-do. Our concert guests love it, sometimes I wonder if they come back for more sake or more music?
Taking the cue from our zabuton concerts at the Kayabuki Ongaku-do, the Ozeki sake brewery sponsored 'Ozeki Zabuton Concerts' througuout the country. Communities without a concert hall may apply to host a concert with the Seiler Piano Duo without any cost to them. There must be, however, a usable building within that community, preferably an unusual setting. We have played in temples, temple gates, light towers, tabacco and blanket factories, hot houses, schools, warehouses, kabuki theaters, always in front of large appreciative audiences.
Everybody brings his own zabuton, seat cushion, and puts it on the ground wherever he feels like sitting. All expenses, piano transport, fee for the artists, travel expenses, are born by the Ozeki company. Of course their “Genmai-Wine” is served during intermission, adding to the festive mood. We have done 60 concerts in this fashion throughout the Japanese islands.
We are very happy to do these kind of engagements.

The Seiler Piano Duo
The Seiler Piano Duo
The Seiler Piano Duo
The Seiler Piano Duo