Credits:

Fukuma Kotaroh

Description:

A journey to visit the vast world of fantasy of these two giant stars in the history of piano music. Last year and this year marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of two great composers/pianists. Both studied at the same conservatory and later left their mark on the history of piano music. Their youthful works are filled with fresh lyricism and a fantastic atmosphere of longing. Koutaro Fukuma invites you to a vast world of fantasy with his outstanding music selection and delicate yet dynamic performance. At the age of 20, he became the first Japanese winner of the Cleveland International Competition and won the Chopin Prize. He studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, the Berlin University of the Arts, and the International Piano Academy at Lake Como. He has given recitals at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Wigmore Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin, Salle Gaveau, Suntory Hall, etc. He has also performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the He has performed more than 50 piano concertos with many renowned orchestras in Japan and abroad, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, Tonkünstler Orchestra, and NHK Symphony Orchestra.In July 2016, she substituted for the late Nelson Freire and performed Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 at the subscription concert of the Orchestre National de la Capitole de Toulouse, conducted by Tugan Sohiyev, to great acclaim. He has also collaborated with top skaters such as figure skater Stéphane Lambiel, and performed with Mathieu Gagnaio, the etoile of the Paris Opera Ballet in Paris. France Romance" and "Beethoven: Piano Sonatas" (Naxos Japan). This is his 19th album. He also produces the concert series "Rare Piano Music," which features rare piano works, and is a television personality on OTTAVA and Buraabo Web Station. He has also attracted attention from people of all ages for his performance videos, commentary videos, and live broadcasts on his YouTube channel. He is active both in Japan and abroad with his diverse repertoire, expressive ability, conceptual programs, and command of five languages.He has made numerous media appearances, including TV Asahi's "Tetsuko's Room" and "Untitled Concert", and NHK TV's "Classical Music Hall" and "Classical Club". He was awarded the 39th Chopin Society of Japan Prize. Naxos Japan