Saturday, April 12, 2008

Kotaro Fukuma Concert

Kotaro Fukuma
Last night I had the extreme pleasure of attending the latest in the Gina Bachauer Concert Series. The performer was a Japanese artist by the name of Kotaro Fukuma. He played 4 different composers including Haydn, Schumann, Takemitsu, and Scriabin.

This was my first experience hearing the music of Toru Takemitsu - a famous Japanese composer.

The concert was fabulous. I was extremely touched by his performance of the Haydn Sonata. There was also one of the scenes from Schumann's Carnival that I have never heard performed with such an astounding brilliance -- I'm struggling to remember what the name of that scene is called.

He performed one encore piece that was another work of Schumann's (I believe it was Spring Evening?) arranged by Franz Liszt. Although it was reminiscent of something I've heard before, it was not all too familiar to me.

Immediately following the performance I went straight to the lobby to purchase Kotaro's album of Toru Takemitsu to add it to my collection. Kotaro was also in the lobby greeting and thanking his patrons and so I took the opportunity to have him sign my new CD :)

If any of you have the opportunity to see Kotaro in concert, PLEASE DO! Also, I encourage you to consider buying one of his albums that he has available here.

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