Kotaro Fukuma, winner of second prize in the BNDES International Piano Competition in 2010, plays in Rio on Saturday December 10, and in Manaus on December 12.
Dec 8, 2011
The young pianist Kotaro Fukuma, who won second prize in the BNDES International Piano Competition in 2010, gave an interview between concerts, by email, to the Competition site (“I am writing as I leave from Berlinfor New York”). Kotaro will play in Rio de Janeiroon Saturday December 10, in the Salão Leopoldo Miguez of the Escola de Música of UFRJ, at 7 p.m., and in the Amazonas Opera House, in Manaus, on Monday the 12th.
Narrating how music came early into his life (“my older sisters studied piano and I insisted on lessons – which started on my fifth birthday”), he shows how extremely happy he is to return toBrazil– and very interested in going to the Amazon.
- I’m dying to know the region,” he says. “I was very honoured by last year’s prize, when I came toBrazilfor the first time. I had ten fantastic days there, especially plaing the Liszt Concerto nº 2 with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra inRio’s beautiful Opera House in the finals. I loved the Brazilian food, the nature and also the cordiality.”
Kotaro knows Bossa-Nova: “Elisa (sic) Reginasinging Águas de Marco!”; and he likes Techno music (“for dancing!”), pop, jazz and French songs. “But obviously I listen to classical music most of the time”. His study routine normally comprises three to five hours at the piano per day; but at times of great demand, such as before a competition, the time dedicated to piano practice goes up to six hours. Despite this, he cultivates a number of interests such as sport and gastronomy, and wants to learn a lot of languages, including Portuguese.
Before arriving in Rio, Kotaro will play in the Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York. His Brazilian programme has pieces by Bach, Beethoven, and 3 Ls: Liszt, Ligeti and Liapounov.