Kotaro Fukuma - The Art of Piano Transcription (2026) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Ave Maria, CG 89 (After Johann Sebastian Bach) [Arr. for Piano by Walter Vleminckx]
02. Liebeslied (After Robert Schumann), S. 566
03. Frühlingsnacht (After Robert Schumann), S. 568
04. Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" (Arr. for Piano by Kotaro Fukuma): I. Allegro
05. Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" (Arr. for Piano by Kotaro Fukuma): II. Romanze. Andante
06. Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" (Arr. for Piano by Kotaro Fukuma): III. Menuetto. Allegretto
07. Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" (Arr. for Piano by Kotaro Fukuma): IV. Rondo. Allegro
08. La Gioconda, Op. 9, Act III: Danza delle ore (Arr. for Piano by Walter Vleminckx & Kotaro Fukuma)
09. Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90, Act I: Prelude (Arr. for Piano by Kotaro Fukuma)
10. Isoldens Liebestod (After Richard Wagner), S. 447
11. Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, CD 87 (Arr. for Piano by Leonard Borwick)
12. The Nutcracker, Op. 71, TH 14: No. 13, Valse des fleurs (Arr. for Piano by Sergei Taneyev & Kotaro Fukuma)
13. Réminiscences de l'opéra Turandot de Puccini, Op. 39
14. Chanson Medley
15. Ave verum corpus (After Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart), S. 461a (Bonus Track)
16. Schwanengesang (After Franz Schubert), S. 560: No. 7, Ständchen (Bonus Track)
17. Champagner-Polka, Op. 211 (Arr. for Piano 4 Hands by Walter Vleminckx) [Bonus Track]
18. Neue Pizzicato-Polka, Op. 449 (Arr. for Piano 4 Hands by Walter Vleminckx) [Bonus Track]

Kotaro Fukuma presents a wonderful collection of piano arrangements that combine virtuosity and lyricism. In addition to such popular pieces as Johann Sebastian Bach's "Ave Maria" arranged by Charles Gounod, "Widmung" by Robert Schumann arranged by Franz Liszt and "Isoldes Liebestod" by Robert Wagner, also arranged by Liszt, the program includes Fukuma's own transcription of Wolfgang Amedeus Mozart's "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" as well as a potpourri of French chansons ("Chanson Medley"), which was at the top of his fans' wish list. Fukuma's virtuosity comes into its own in Amilcare Ponchielli's "Danza delle ore" (La Gioconda), arranged by Walter Vleminckx, and Piotr Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" (The Nutcracker), in the 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 first prize and the Chopin Prize at the 15th International Piano Competition in Cleveland, has already performed in major concert halls in Europe and the USA. He has released 20 CDs to critical acclaim. His album "Fantasy - Scriabin & Rachmaninoff" was nominated for the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) 2024. Since July 2020, he has been organizing 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.