Mami Sakato, titular organist at Himonya Catholic Church (Tokyo, Japan), will give a flamboyant concert around Bach, Saint-Saens, Franck, Widor, Durufle, Dupré, Puig-Roget, and Roth.

Interview

[AROSS:] Where do you come from?

[Mami Sakato:] I come from Japan. I was born in Tokyo. I currently live in Yokohama but I work in Tokyo.

Why did you choose this program?

Last Sunday was Pentecost. I will start the concert with a Bach Choral for Pentecost. Then I chose to play French music, a great passion of mine, which will sound magnificently on the Saint-Sulpice organ, especially the pieces written by my former professors – Henriette Puig-Roget and Daniel Roth. I will finish with the Sinfonia from the Canata “Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir”, BWV 29, a transcription done by Marcel Dupré.

At what moment did you say to yourself “I want to make music for a living”?

I wouldn’t know what to say about “what moment.”

What do you do before a concert?

I eat a good meal to have strength!

What music do you listen to besides classical?

Today I listened to Japanese songs.

If you could travel in time to meet a composer, musician, or famous person, who would you choose and why?

I would like to meet great composers like Franck, Saint-Saëns, Widor . . . but my greatest dream would be to see Henriette Puig-Roget again because I was only 20 years old when I studied with her. I would like to talk with her once again.

How do you choose your organ shoes? (dance, heel, classic, material, etc.)

In Japan, in Ginza, there is a store that sells organ shoes. I was told that these shoes were originally meant for dancing.

Is this the first time you play the Saint-Sulpice organ?

No, I have played this organ several times for recitals – this beautiful organ inspires us enormously.