Illusions

[Machine Translation] Tomoki Sakata is a talented pianist who has attracted worldwide attention since winning the first prize at the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition in 2016, and has captivated audiences with his overwhelming technique and rich expressiveness. This second album, to be released in 2020, contains eight pieces selected by Mr. Sakata based on the concept of "projecting to the listener an 'Illusion' of various compositions, including symphonies, concertos, songs, and operas. Sakata is interested in not only piano works but also orchestral works, songs, and operas. The recording of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 "Waltz" (world premiere recording) and No. 6 "Pathetique" (world premiere recording), both arranged by Feinberg, are extremely difficult pieces that could be described as theoretical. The performance of these pieces, which embody the phrase "10 fingers x 1 piano," will fascinate you not only with Sakata's technique, but also with his rich musicality. And then there is Liszt, a work that is synonymous with Sakata. The performance of Rigoletto Paraphrase and Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 is a masterpiece, sung freely but intelligently constructed. This ambitious work, which explores new possibilities in piano performance, has been long awaited for re-release in a high-quality SACD hybrid disc.

2016年フランツ・リスト国際ピアノコンクール優勝後、世界から注目されている俊英ピアニスト阪田知樹は圧倒的なテクニックと豊かな表現力で聴衆を虜にしている。2020年に発表したこの2ndアルバムは、『「10本の指×ピアノ1台」で交響曲、協奏曲、歌曲、オペラなど様々な編成の《幻影 (Illusion)》を聴き手に投影する』というコンセプトのもと阪田が選りすぐった8曲を収録。ピアノ作品はもちろんのこと、オーケストラ作品、歌曲、オペラにも強い興味をもつ阪田。自身の強い希望で録音が実現したフェインベルク編曲のチャイコフスキーの交響曲第5番第3楽章「ワルツ」(世界初録音)と第6番「悲愴」第3楽章「スケルツォ」は机上の空論ともいえる超難曲。「10本の指×ピアノ1台」をまさに体現したこの演奏を聴けば、阪田のテクニックはもちろんのこと豊かな音楽性に魅了されるはず。そして阪田の代名詞であるリスト。リゴレット・パラフレーズとハンガリー狂詩曲第2番を収録、自在に歌いながらも知性的に構築された演奏は圧巻。ピアノ演奏の新たな可能性を探る意欲作、高音質のSACDハイブリッド盤で待望の再発売。