[Blog] After the Concert: Voice and Piano Duo

On Friday, February 6, 2026,
I gave a voice and piano duo concert
with pianist Aiko Ueki
at the Église luthérienne de l’Ascension in Paris’s 17th arrondissement.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us that evening.

The program opened with a song by Pauline Viardot and continued with works by
Massenet, Schumann, Weber, Schubert, Handel, Bellini, and Puccini,
as well as selections from the musical theatre repertoire,
offering a wide-ranging journey through different periods, languages, and styles.

The first half focused on French and German opera arias and art songs.
The second half unfolded from Baroque music through bel canto,
leading into the world of musical theatre.

Surrounded by the church’s rich and resonant acoustics,
I felt the voice and piano come together in natural harmony within the space.

For the encore, we performed Je te veux by Erik Satie.
It was a particularly intimate moment of the evening,
one in which the closeness with the audience felt especially strong.

Supported by Aiko Ueki’s supple and deeply expressive musicianship,
I was able to approach each piece with care and attentiveness.
The warm words and kind expressions shared with us after the concert
have become a great source of encouragement for my future activities.

Building on this experience, I hope to continue exploring ever more deeply
the relationship between voice, text, and music,
and to approach each stage project with sincerity and dedication.

Once again, my sincere thanks go to everyone who attended the concert
and to all those who helped make this evening possible.

Risa Ichikawa