The Japanese pianist presented piano transcriptions and pieces from the Baroque to the 20th century at Singapore's Victoria Concert Hall. The audience took the opportunity to explore some of the most popular classical repertoire with him.
The evening began quietly with "Air" from Johann Sebastian Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, transcribed by Siloti. Kotaro Fukuma elicited a beautiful, rich sound from the grand piano and created an ideal prelude to the following program. A surprise was Fukuma's own transcription of Mozart's Serenade in G major (KV 525), the famous Little Night Music. Kotaro also delved deep into the world of French Impressionist music as he painted pictures using different colours produced by a C. Bechstein concert grand.
It was particularly nice that there were many children in the audience. Their spellbound silence and listening throughout the concert said a lot about how Kotaro Fukuma manages to musically mesmerize all types of listeners.
This magnificent evening of serenade music was a captivating listening experience and certainly a highlight in Singapore's musical calendar.
Born in Tokyo in 1982, Kotaro Fukuma's career flourished after he won the First Prize and the Chopin Prize at the 15th Cleveland International Piano Competition at the age of 20. Kotaro performs in the world's major concert halls and works with the world's leading orchestras and conductors. He has released eighteen CDs. He is currently touring five continents, including Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America.
