Fujita Mao's First Korea Recital After Winning Second Prize at the Tchaikovsky Competition

Chopin and Scriabin's 24 Preludes
to Be Performed at Seoul Arts Center
on February 23

Japanese pianist Mao Fujita, who won second place at the 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition, will hold his first solo concert in Korea on February 23 at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall.

Fujita will take the stage as the first performer in Mast Media's planned concert series, "The Great Pianists Series." He left a strong impression on Korean classical music fans with a collaborative performance in October 2023. At that time, he performed Dvo??k's Piano Concerto with the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Shemon Bichikov.

Fujita Mao [Photo by Mast Media, (c) Dovile Sermokas]

Born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1998, Fujita began learning piano following his older brother during his childhood. After entering the Tokyo College of Music High School, he began to stand out, winning the Swiss Clara Haskil Competition and the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, and gaining worldwide recognition by winning second place at the 2019 Tchaikovsky International Competition.

Fujita is praised for his innate sensitivity and natural artistry, harmonizing well with Mozart's music. His debut album was also Mozart. In 2021, Fujita became the first Japanese pianist to sign an exclusive contract with Sony Classical, and the following year, he gained attention by recording all 18 Mozart piano sonatas. Last year, he released an album containing 72 preludes: 24 each by Chopin, Scriabin, and Akio Yashiro.

At his upcoming solo concert in Korea this February, Fujita plans to perform preludes by Chopin and Scriabin. In the first half, he will play Scriabin's 24 preludes and a fantasy, which are considered some of the most beautiful early works of Scriabin. In the second half, he will perform Chopin's 24 preludes.

Tickets for Mao Fujita's solo concert can be purchased at the Seoul Arts Center and Interpark Ticket. Ticket prices range from 30,000 to 80,000 KRW.