Various Composers - The Art of Piano Transcription (Kotaro Fukuma)

Information

1. Charles-François Gounod - Ave Maria, CG 89 (after Johann Sebastian Bach) [arr. Walter Vleminckx]
2. Franz Liszt - Liebeslied (after Robert Schumann), S. 566
3. Franz Liszt - Frühlingsnacht (after Robert Schumann), S. 568
4. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" (arr. Kotaro Fukuma): I. Allegro
5. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" (arr. Kotaro Fukuma): II. Romanze. Andante
6. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" (arr. Kotaro Fukuma): III. Menuetto. Allegretto
7. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" (arr. Kotaro Fukuma): IV. Rondo. Allegro
8. Amilcare Ponchielli - La Gioconda, Op. 9, Act III: Danza delle ore (arr. Walter Vleminckx & Kotaro Fukuma)
9. Richard Wagner - Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90, Act I: Prelude (arr. Kotaro Fukuma)
10. Franz Liszt - Isoldens Liebestod (after Richard Wagner), S. 447
11. Claude Debussy - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, CD 87 (arr. Leonard Borwick)
12. Peter Tschaikowsky  - The Nutcracker, Op. 71, TH 14: No. 13, Valse des fleurs (arr. Sergei Taneyev & Kotaro Fukuma)
13. Giacomo Puccini, Leslie Howard - Réminiscences de l'opéra Turandot de Puccini Op. 39
14. Kotaro Fukuma - Chanson Medley
15. Franz Liszt - Ave verum corpus (after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), S. 461a
16. Franz Liszt - Schwanengesang (after Franz Schubert), S. 560: No. 7, Ständchen
17. Johann Strauss II - Champagner-Polka, Op. 211 (arr. Walter Vleminckx)
18. Johann Strauss II - Neue Pizzicato-Polka, Op. 449 (arr. Walter Vleminckx)

Kotaro Fukuma, piano

Kaoru Jitsukawa, piano II

Date: 2026

Label: Naxos Japan

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Acclaimed pianist Kotaro Fukuma presents a stunning collection of piano arrangements that masterfully combine technical virtuosity with expressive lyricism. The program features celebrated transcriptions, including Liszt's settings of Schumann and Wagner, alongside Fukuma's own fan-requested arrangements of Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik and a medley of French songs. It also boasts virtuosic showpieces by Ponchielli and Tchaikovsky, as well as the world-premiere CD release of Leslie Howard's Turandot reminiscences.

Tokyo-born pianist Kotaro Fukuma established an international concert career after winning First Prize and the Chopin Prize at the 15th Cleveland International Piano Competition at age twenty. He has since performed across five continents at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and Suntory Hall, collaborating with elite orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra and the Moscow Philharmonic. Renowned for his championing of contemporary music and rare repertoire, Fukuma has premiered numerous modern works and curates the "Rare Piano Music" concert series. An alumnus of the Paris Conservatoire, he has released twenty critically acclaimed CDs, including an ICMA-nominated album.