Kotaro Fukuma - Debussy: Reflets dans leau '2014

Tracks list

Tracklist

01. Deux arabesques, L. 66: No. 1
02. Deux arabesques, L. 66: No. 2
03. Images, Book 1, L. 110: I. Reflets dans leau
04. Images, Book 1, L. 110: II. Hommage à Rameau
05. Images, Book 1, L. 110: III. Mouvement
06. Préludes, Book 2, L. 123: VIII. Ondine
07. Préludes, Book 1, L. 117: X. La cathédrale engloutie
08. Estampes, L. 100: I. Pagodes
09. Estampes, L. 100: II. Soirée dans Grenade
10. Estampes, L. 100: III. Jardins sous la pluie
11. Suite Bergamasque, L. 75: III. Clair de lune
12. Images, Book 2, L. 111: I. Cloches à travers les feuilles
13. Images, Book 2, L. 111: II. Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut
14. Images, Book 2, L. 111: III. Poissons dor
15. LIsle joyeuse, L. 106

The Chinese character ‘Ko’ in Kotaro suggests ‘light on
water’ and inspired Kotaro Fukuma to develop a project close to his
heart, ‘Shimmering Water’. Many composers have been similarly
attracted by this image, first amongst them Debussy. Kotaro Fukuma’s
superb interpretation of these water-inspired pieces by Debussy directly
reflects his own self-image.

Born in Tokyo, Kotaro Fukuma started learning piano at the age of 5 and has
obtained many high awards in such international competitions as Tel Aviv
(Rubinstein), Santander (Paloma O’Shea), Helsinki (Maj Lind), Rio de
Janeiro (BNDES) and Salt Lake City (Gina Bachauer). In 2003, at the age of 20,
Kotaro won both First Prize and the Chopin Prize at the 15th Cleveland
International Piano Competition. Since then his concert career has developed on
five continents.

He has performed in major concert venues, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln
Center in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, Philharmonie and Konzerthaus in
Berlin, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Salle Olivier Messiaen in Paris, Victoria Hall in
Geneva, Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, Teatro Municipal in Santiago de Chile,
Suntory Hall and Opera City in Tokyo. His performances with orchestras include
the Cleveland Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, Dresden
Philharmonic, ÃŽle de France National Orchestra and New Japan Philharmonic.
Passionate about contemporary music, Kotaro has performed world and national
premieres of works by Toru Takemitsu, Mutsuo Shishido, Renaud Gagneux, Thierry
Escaich, Thierry Huillet, Peter Klatzow and Francesco Milita.

He studied music at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris
with Bruno Rigutto and Marie-Françoise Bucquet, then at the Univeristät
der Künste Berlin with Klaus Hellwig and at the International Piano Academy
Lake Como in Italy. He has also studied with several great masters of the piano,
including Leon Fleisher, Mitsuko Uchida, Richard Goode, Alicia de Larrocha,
Maria João Pires, Leslie Howard and Aldo Ciccolini.

Kotaro has released six CDs for the labels Naxos (Schumann, Takemitsu),
Accustika (Liszt, Toppan Live Recital), Harmony (Albéniz, reedited by
Éditions Hortus) and Denon (Debussy), and has received critical praise in
such music magazines as Gramophone, Diapason, American Music Records, Monde de
la Musique, Bayern 4 Klassik and Classic Today.

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