The Art of Piano Transcription

Kotaro Fukuma presents a wonderful collection of piano arrangements that combine virtuosity and lyricism. Alongside such popular pieces as Johann Sebastian Bach's "Ave Maria" in an arrangement by Charles Gounod, Robert Schumann's "Widmung" arranged by Franz Liszt, and Richard Wagner's "Isolde's Liebestod" also arranged by Liszt, the program includes Fukuma’s own transcription of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" as well as a medley of French chansons ("Chanson Medley"), which was at the top of his fans' wish list. Fukuma’s virtuosity is particularly highlighted in Amilcare Ponchielli's "Danza delle ore" (La Gioconda), arranged by Walter Vleminckx, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" (The Nutcracker) in a version by Sergei Taneyev. Leslie Howard's "Réminiscences de l'opéra Turandot de Puccini" (Nessun Dorma!) appears on CD for the first time. Kotaro Fukuma, winner of the first prize and the Chopin Prize at the 15th Cleveland International Piano Competition, has performed in major concert halls across Europe, the USA, and elsewhere. He has released 20 critically acclaimed CDs. His album "Fantasy – Scriabin & Rachmaninoff" was nominated for the 2024 International Classical Music Awards (ICMA). Since July 2020, he has hosted the concert series "Rare Piano Music," in which he presents fellow pianists and rare piano repertoire. Kotaro Fukuma currently lives between Berlin, Leiden, and Tokyo.