Sayuri Yamagata

When I was two – and after I’d pinched my brother’s violin – my parents bought me a little 1/16 violin. That led to a violin course at the conservatoire in Tokyo. Around fifteen years after my first little violin, I discovered the existence of the Baroque violin, when I received a present of a recording of Bach’s double concerto, performed by Sigiswald Kuijken and Lucy van Dael. Listening in my room to the slow movement, I cried. From that moment on, I’ve been convinced that’s the only way to play Baroque music.

I came to the Netherlands about forty years ago to study Baroque violin in The Hague. Shortly afterwards, I was invited to play with the Netherlands Bach Society, and that was my first job in the Netherlands. On the day of the concert, I was paid the fee in cash in guilders, and I remember feeling very proud and happy. Since then, I’ve played more or less continuously with the Bach Society, and that has played a big role in my musical life. I’ve had the opportunity to perform numerous concerts and some very special violin solos, including those in the St Matthew Passion.

Over those forty years, I also became the happy mother of two children. And along with my husband (a former viola player with the Bach Society), I’ve also been producing Japanese miso for twenty years, alongside our music activities. However, time passes so quickly that my retirement age is drawing closer and closer. But unlike in the past, there are fortunately many talented young Baroque musicians around today. I’ll be happy to support them and I wish them a wonderful musical future!