Manasse/Nakamatsu Duo

Comprised of clarinetist Jon Manasse and pianist Jon Nakamatsu, two of America’s most distinguished artists, the MANASSE/NAKAMATSU DUO immediately established itself with a highly acclaimed 2004 performance in Boston. Subsequent coast-to-coast touring has included appearances on some of the country’s most prestigious series: New York City’s Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Washington’s National Gallery of Art, Eastman School of Music, Charlottesville’s Tuesday Evening Concert Series, Des Moines Art Center, Duke University, Montalvo Center for the Arts, Rhode Island Chamber Music Concerts, St. Bonaventure University, Fort Worth’s Van Cliburn Foundation, University of Massachusetts Amherst. The artists are also heard at the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, which they serve as co-directors.

The Manasse/Nakamatsu Duo’s current season is highlighted by a pair of concerts at Washington, DC’s historic Dumbarton Oaks, as well as performances in Carmel, Corvallis, Manhattan (KS), Mill Valley (CA), Pittsburgh and San Jose. With Leslie B. Dunner conducting Symphony Silicon Valley, the Duo presents the world premiere performances of The Cape Cod Concerto by Paquito D’Rivera.

The Manasse/Nakamatsu Duo is also dedicated to expanding the concert repertoire for 
their instruments’ beautifully combinative sounds. To date, the artists have commissioned John Novacek’s Four Rags for Two Jons and Paquito D’Rivera’s The Cape Cod Files. Currently, Jeremy Cohen is also creating a new work. 

Individually, Jon Manasse and Jon Nakamatsu have developed extensive repertoires and lengthy discographies. Their hundreds of performances include concerto engagements, solo recitals and chamber music collaborations with orchestras, universities and music festivals, here at home and throughout the world. Additionally, Jon Manasse served as the principal clarinetist of The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, performing under the batons of Artistic Director James Levine and, among others, Andrew Davis, Valery Gergiev and Vladimir Jurowski; Jon Nakamatsu is the Gold Medalist of the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

The Manasse/Nakamatsu Duo’s debut CD, a harmonia mundi usa album of the Brahms Clarinet Sonatas, was released early in 2008. Almost immediately, The New York Times exclaimed, “Jon Nakamatsu’s contribution is just as important as Mr. Manasse’s, and their partnership is complete. Mr. Nakamatsu’s playing is as meltingly beautiful as Mr. Manasse’s. Harmonia Mundi’s production is impeccable, capturing such disparate instruments in full color and a lifelike perspective.” An all-American album, comprising works of Bernstein, D’Rivera, Gershwin and Novacek, was released in Fall 2010.