Dvořák in Japan – A Glowing Debut for Raphaela Gromes

On May 15th at Suntory Hall in Tokyo and May 17th at Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall, Raphaela Gromes gave two unforgettable debut concerts with the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Tadaaki Otaka.
We’ve just received some wonderful reviews from Japan, and we’re excited to share a few highlights with you!

 

"Although it was her first visit to Japan, Gromes’s mature and robust technique were evident, along with an impressively measured singing style at key moments. In the finale of the third movement, she masterfully shaped the emotional rise and brought the entire orchestra into perfect unity."
May 16, 2025, Yomiuri Newspaper Online

"Gromes’s cello is imbued with profound lyricism and a gleaming tone, enveloping Suntory Hall in a perfectly balanced sound from the low registers to the high. In particular, her sense of breathing and the subtleties of expression in the Largo vividly highlighted the dialogue with the orchestra. Overall, it was praised as ‘a rare performance in which passion and structural concern coexist in harmony'."
May 18, 2025, Asahi Newspaper

"Gromes wove dynamic accents and delicate pianissimos into her playing, instilling an exceptional tension in the ensemble with the orchestra. Especially in the introduction of the first movement, her cello’s presence was so vivid that it instantly focused the audience. Overall, her performance was lauded as ‘constructive and persuasive despite her youth,’ drawing repeated rounds of applause."
May 19, 2025, Mainichi Newspaper Evening Edition

 

These are beautiful memories from a very special debut – we hope to return to Japan again soon!