The World of 5 Pianos

Five full concert grand pianos generate an overwhelming groove and a kaleidoscope of color.

“Hurling magma of sound” (Niigata Nippo, 2019), “an overwhelming richness of texture” (Ongaku no Tomo, 2019), “supreme delight” (Chopin, 2023), and “perfect unity of nuance” (Ongaku Gendai, 2023)—the hugely popular Ryutopia (Niigata City Performing Arts Center) project, Piano Zirkus: The World of Five Pianos, is finally released on disc.

The all-out ensemble of five virtuoso pianists, each active in his or her own field, at times swells into a torrent of sound that even surpasses the power of an orchestra, surging and spiraling in waves. This is a listening experience beyond imagination, revealing new possibilities for piano music through the unprecedented expressive medium of five pianos.

• [1] Masanori Kato: Five Kings [Commissioned by RYUTOPIA 2022]
• [2] Gustav Holst (Arr. Kazuki Komai): Jupiter
• [3] Maurice Ravel (Arr. Kazuki Komai): Boléro
• [4] George Gershwin (Arr. Kazuki Komai): Rhapsody in Blue
• Modest Mussorgsky (Arr. Kazuki Komai): Pictures at an Exhibition
  
  • [5] Promenade
  • [6] I. Gnomus
  • [7] Promenade
  • [8] II. The Old Castle
  • [9] Promenade
  • [10] III. The Tuileries Gardens
  • [11] IV. Bydlo
  • [12] Promenade
  • [13] V. Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
  • [14] VI. Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle
  • [15] VII.The Market-Place at Limoges
  • [16] VIII. Catacombae (Sepulcrum Romanum)
  • [17] Cum mortuis in lingua mortua
  • [18] IX. The Hut on Fowl's Legs (Baba-Yaga)
  • [19] X. The Great Gate of Kiev

PIANO ZIRKUS
[Mitsutaka Shiraishi, Midori Tamura, Ken’ichi Nakagawa, Duetwo Kanae&Yukari]

Instruments:
・KAWAI EX
・STEINWAY D-274 (x2)
・Bösendorfer Model 290 Imperial
・YAMAHA CF-ⅢS

Recorded at “RYUTOPIA” Niigata City Performing Arts Center Concert Hall, 24-27 April 2024
Recording Engineer: Yukio Kojima
Music Direction & Digital Editing: Jun Kawanami
Piano Tuner: Masayuki Ishikawa
Curation: Chiharu Hirata (RYUTOPIA)
Artist Management: Emi Kitayama (Artiffinity Co., Ltd.)
Translation: Jonathan Baum
Cover Design: Natsue Yamanaka
Booklet Editor: Kensuke Fujii

Special Thanks: 
Tomoaki Nakao, Tomoyuki Suzuki, Mizuki Marui, Noa Watanabe, Yu Homma, PRELUDIO Co.,Ltd., Pro Arte Musicae Co., Ltd.