Credits:

Kakehashi Takeshi

Description:

The quintessence of Takeyuki Ladai. Chopin's nocturnes and improvisations that resonate with the listener. His passionate performance of Schumann's Kreisleriana, a major piece, was also impressive. Pianist Takeyuki Ladai captivates listeners with his unique sensibility. He continues to give recitals at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan every year, and his live recordings are released on the SONARE label. This album includes Chopin's Nocturne and Impromptu and Schumann's Kreisleriana. Mr. Lai is well known for his performance of Chopin, having won the Warsaw Mayor's Prize at the International Chopin Competition in 2000, and he has continuously performed Chopin's works in recital as his life's work. He has been recording Chopin's major works live, carefully and steadily, and his disc of complete ballades (SONARE-1023) released on the SONARE label was highly acclaimed, including a special selection by Record Artists. His 24 Preludes, Nocturne No. 20, Military Polonaise (SONARE 1027), Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 in string quartet version (SONARE-1042), and Piano Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3 (SONARE-1043) have also been highly praised for their intelligence and technical excellence.This album includes nocturnes and improvisations from recitals in October 2017, September 2018, and September 2019. The delicate and fluid tone is so delicate that it brings tears to the listener's eyes. Schumann's Kreisleriana is also not to be missed. This work is dedicated to Chopin, making it a perfect coupling. This is a great coupling, and the passionate and dramatic performance of this great piece shows how well Ladai is performing at the present time. Ladai plays the piano as if he were breathing. I think it is this sense of synchronization between the composer and Ladai that gives the performance such depth. That is what makes this CD so listenable. (In 1994, he won the International Music Competition for the Blind and Low Vision in the Czech Republic and the International Piano Competition for Young People in Ettlingen, Germany (B category) as the youngest participant, and was recognized for his rich musicality. In 1998, she won the second prize at the International Ron Thibaud Competition in Paris, as well as the SACEM Prize (recital prize) and the Spion Bonneau Foundation Prize.Winner of the Mayor's Prize at the International Chopin Competition Warsaw 2000. King International