Taro Hakase: Japonism, 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

London-based Japanese violinist and composer Taro Hakase is a classical wild card. His successful career kick-started in the 90s from, wait for it, playing the violin on Celine Dion’s album Let’s Talk About Love. Love it or not as the case may be, he has sold six million records in Japan alone. He has worked with other stars such as film composer Ennio Morricone and more recently Andrea Bocelli, the famous blind singer.

As well as playing the violin, Hakase has recorded scores of his own music with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. Not a genre man, he prefers to think of music as a universal language, which falls into two categories: good and bad. He has written music for all sorts, including television and even video games.

If you haven’t seen Hakase in concert before, he likes to entertain his audience. Don’t be thinking that this will be just one man on a stage. No, Hakase, like a rockstar, goes all out with lavish and large sets.

After his success in Japan, he moved over to London just a few years ago and believes that now is the right time to make his mark on Europe. His performances have been likened those of the Israeli-American violinist Itzhak Perlman and he is set to stand out from the crowd.

He is a rising star in Europe and a real curiosity. We think he is worth seeing in the flesh.

Tickets: £45

Address& Map:  Shepherd's Bush, London W12  

Nearest Tube: Shepherd's Bush, Shepherd'sBush Market, Goldhawk Road