72 Preludes

Mao Fujita’s new recording Crosses Continents and Eras with ‘72 Preludes’. Following his ‘consistently impressive’ (Gramophone) traversal of Mozart’s complete Piano Sonatas for Sony Classical - winner of an Opus Klassik Award - Japanese pianist Mao Fujita presents a similarly ambitious project: matching sets of 24 Preludes by three composers, Frédéric Chopin, Alexander Scriabin and Akio Yashiro. In so doing, Fujita unites the Europe in which he now lives with the Japan where he was born and raised.

The works incorporate a huge variety of moods and styles as their young composer explores varied harmonic and rhythmic devices with panache. Fujita likens the contents of his new recording to a refreshing but hearty sushi meal: ‘If the Chopin and the Scriabin are the fish and the rice, the base, the Yashiro is the wasabi - just as vital, and with that special kick to create something delicious.’

It was only a matter of time before Fujita brought his distinctively weightless, cantabile playing style and crystalline clarity of expression to the music of Chopin. When Fujita included Chopin encores in his acclaimed Mozart Sonata series at Wigmore Hall in London, The Guardian concluded that ‘an all-Chopin programme from Fujita is now a priority.’ Fujita says he was drawn to Chopin’s particular character of expression and believes he was ‘able to make something of this special sound; this melodic poetry and beautiful harmony.’ The allure of Scriabin’s 24 Preludes was no less strong. ‘These are phenomenal pieces, with things you cannot find in Chopin,’ Fujita says.

Photo credit: Johanna Berghorn