Natsuho Murata performs Paganini: Cantabile in D Major as the first of two contrasting pieces for Round II of the International Television Competition of Young Musicians "The Nutcracker" (in which she won the first prize, "Golden Nutcracker", for strings) in December 2018, age 11.

One cannot help but be transported by the hauntingly beautiful melodic line Natsuho evokes from her bow (as were the judges obviously). It is a contrast indeed to the second piece that followed, the virtuosic Wieniawski Scherzo-Tarantella that has had more exposure by being featured by TwoSetViolin:    • When an 11 Year Old CRUSHES Your Dreams   from    • Video   .

PS: You can support Natsuho during these difficult pandemic times by obtaining a ticket (only 500 yen or US$5) to her recent online recital in the Save the Young Artists program curated by her renowned teacher, Koichiro Harada: www.stya-online.com/videos/ ; Natsuho is the Vol. 7 performer.
Now 13 years old, Natsuho begins her recital of four pieces with the Schubert Sonatina in D major op.137 No.1 where once again she weaves her melodic magic in the second Andante movement, as well as the lyrical passages of the Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso that ends the recital. Sandwiched between are the Wieniawski Scherzo-Tarantella and a riveting account of the monumental Chaconne (Ciaccona) from Bach's Solo Partita No.2. (Edit: see the link below for a sample clip of this).

PS2: If after watching the online recital you think Natsuho looked sad, it is attributable to the taxing filming environment with just the accompanying pianist and the cameramen. Natsuho has shown herself to be a performer for big occasions whether on the competition stage or concert hall. Yes, there is a significant change in her performance style since late December 2019 as shown by her performance of the 3rd movement of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in Moscow, her confidence moderating the seriousness:    • Video   .
You may be as relieved as I am when you see the photos of the smiling schoolgirl in the publicity announcement for her last live public recital on 26 September 2020: www.norakubow.com/profile-1/natsuho-murata-vn-01/ . (With the Chrome browser you can get the English translated page).

UPDATE: You can watch a sample clip of Natsuho performing the Bach Chaconne from her online recital here:    • Aspen Online Concert　”Save The Young Artis...   .