Description:

This is the first solo release by pianist Masaru Kosuge from Sony Music in a long time. Kosuge has not recorded concertos since Mendelssohn's Concerto No. 1 (2009) with the Mito Chamber Orchestra conducted by Seiji Ozawa and Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 20 and 22 (2012) with Camerata Salzburg conducted by Schellenberger. Masaru Fujikura's Piano Concerto No. 3 "Impulse" was co-commissioned by the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and was dedicated to Masaru Kosuge, who performed the solo in all three orchestra premieres.The same piece, "WHIM" by Dai Fujikura, was conceived by Fujikura after Masaru Kosuge played the cadenza to Dai Fujikura and conductor Kazuki Yamada during rehearsals for the Japanese premiere of "Impulse," asking them to listen to the cadenza, which prompted Fujikura to publish the cadenza part alone as an independent solo piano work. This piece has a unique origin. The coupling piece, Ravel's masterpiece "Piano Concerto in G major," is backed by the prestigious BBC Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Ryan Wigglesworth. (C)RS