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Kenji Sakai’s Piano Concerto “Cube" Premiered in Nagoya

Mar. 30, 2023

On March 11, the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Ooi Takeshi, performed the world premiere of Kenji Sakai's Piano Concerto "Cube", commissioned by the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, at the Aichi Prefectural Art Theater Concert Hall in Nagoya. Filippo Gorini was the featured soloist. The composer notes:

"Piano Concerto “Cube” (2018/2020) is comprised of five movements beginning with the initial “C” which were composed within the period of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“Cube” draws its inspiration from two sources: the first inspiration is “virtual physical space” as described by a French critic. As an imaginary phenomena, a cube in space is violently or slowly rotated, changing its angles in a way that I would like to demonstrate in my music. The other one is a citation from Pablo Picasso’s paintings. He drew in the manner of “cubism,” such that an object seen from various angles was drawn within one picture. The subtitles of each movement denote the action taking place within. The first movement is named “Cascade”, referring to the descending scale performed on the piano. The second movement, “Choral” is harmonic. The third movement, “Capriccio” is a playful scherzo, drawing the notes into a symmetrical shape. After the fourth movement's long “Candenza,” the piano soloist and orchestra are organically close as they move into the finale, “Cube.”"

Listen to Kenji Sakai's Paraphrase on Japanese Folk Songs:

(Paraphrase on Japanese Folk Songs/Kenji Sakai/Glamorous Duo:
Tomonari Tsuchiya, piano; Yoshiko Ikemura, cello)

To learn more about Kenji Sakai, visit: zen-on.co.jp.

Kenji Sakai
Piano Concerto "Cube" (2018/2020)
for piano and orchestra
2(2.pic).2.2(2.also E♭cl).s.sax(asax).2-4.3.3.1-timp.4perc-hp-str(14.12.10.8.6), solo pf
16'

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