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. A laureate of the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in both 1997 (Young Artists) and 2010 (Artists), he also won First Prize and the Chopin Prize at the Cleveland International Piano Competition at the age of 20.
His concert career has taken him to 37 countries across five continents, with performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Wigmore Hall, the Berlin Philharmonie, Leipzig’s Gewandhaus, and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall. He has appeared with major orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, Dresden Philharmonic, and NHK Symphony Orchestra.
Fukuma has released 21 recordings, including Fantasy – Scriabin & Rachmaninoff (Naxos), nominated for a 2024 International Classical Music Award. Since 2020, he has also produced Rare Piano Music, a concert series featuring fellow pianists and seldom-heard repertoire. He currently lives between Berlin, Leiden, and Tokyo.
MATTHIEU STEFANELLI
LIVRE (2016), Homage to Franz 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
Années de pèlerinage: Deuxième année: Italie
(Years of Pilgrimage: Second Year: Italy)
