Internationally acclaimed pianist and Bachauer laureate Kotaro Fukuma pays tribute to Franz Liszt with a captivating journey through the composer's musical world. Featuring works by Liszt, Wagner, and contemporary composer Matthieu Stefanelli, the program culminates in Liszt's magnificent Années de pèlerinage: Italie (Years of Pilgrimage: Italy).
Born in Tokyo, Kotaro Fukuma began studying piano at the age of five and has earned top prizes at numerous international competitions, including the Cleveland International Piano Competition (First Prize and Chopin Prize), the Arthur Rubinstein Competition, the Paloma O'Shea Competition, the Maj Lind Competition, and the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition.
His concert career has taken him to more than 35 countries, with performances at many of the world's leading venues, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, the Philharmonie Berlin, the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Salle Gaveau in Paris, and Suntory Hall in Tokyo. He has appeared as soloist with major orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, Dresden Philharmonic, and NHK Symphony Orchestra.
A passionate advocate for both standard and contemporary repertoire, Fukuma has premiered works by numerous composers and has released 21 acclaimed recordings on leading international labels. His 2024 Naxos recording Fantasy – Scriabin & Rachmaninoff was nominated for an International Classical Music Award. He currently lives between Berlin, Leiden, and Tokyo.
MATTHIEU STEFANELLI
LIVRE (2018) in memory of Liszt
RICHARD WAGNER
Extracts from Tristan und Isolde
FRANZ LISZT
Légende N° 2: St François de Paule marchant sur les flots
(Legend No. 2: St. Francis of Paola Walking on the Waves)
INTERMISSION
FRANZ LISZT
Les Années de pèlerinage: Deuxième année: Italie
(Years of Pilgrimage: Second Year: Italy)
