M A Y 2 4 , 2 0 2 3 - 7 : 3 0 P M
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre — Kobayashi Hall
6 Garamond Court, Toronto
SOLD OUT
Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre proudly present the Ontario debut of internationally-acclaimed pianist Kyohei Sorita in celebration of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre’s 60th anniversary
One of the most sought-after pianists of his generation, Kyohei Sorita is the winner of the Silver Medal at the prestigious 18th International Chopin Piano Competition (2021) in Warsaw. This is the highest prize for a Japanese-born pianist since Mitsuko Uchida’s second prize in 1970. In the coming season, invitations will take Mr. Sorita to the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra (originally under Gergiev, now under Payare), to Poland, Australia, and Austria (Tonkünstler Orchestra) and on a tour with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra under Alan Gilbert.
In 2020 he gave his debuts in Paris and at the Vienna Musikverein to much acclaim. His orchestra collaborations include Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, RAI National Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, Tonkünstler-Orchester, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Yomiuri Japan Symphony Orchestra, and Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Sorita is also the founder, producer, and conductor of the Japan National Orchestra.
Program
CHOPIN Ballade No.1 Op.23
CHOPIN Ballade No.2 Op.38
CHOPIN Ballade No.3 Op.47
CHOPIN Ballade No.4 Op.52
INTERMISSION
SCRIABIN Fantasy in B minor Op.28
RACHMANINOFF Prelude in D major Op.23 No.4
RACHMANINOFF Piano Sonata No.2 Op.36
Concert Sponsors and Supporters:
Bravo Niagara! Maestro Series Sponsor: Audi Niagara
Supporters: Yamaha Canada Music, Japan Foundation, The New Classical 96.3 FM, Toronto City Philharmonic Orchestra
Founded in 1963, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) is a not-for-profit organization which celebrates the unique culture, history, and legacy of Japanese Canadians for the benefit of all Canadians. The JCCC is recognized worldwide as an important and vibrant community institution.
Kyohei Sorita won the silver medal at the 2021 Chopin Competition in Warsaw. In the coming season, invitations will take him to the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra (originally under Gergiev, now under Payare), to Poland, Australia, and Austria (Tonkünstler Orchestra) and on a tour with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra under Alan Gilbert.
In 2020 he gave his debuts in Paris and at the Vienna Musikverein to much acclaim. His orchestra collaborations include Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Tonkünstler-Orchester, RAI National Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra, Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Yomiuri Japan Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and he played under the baton of conductors like Robin Ticciati, Sebastian Weigle, Yutaka Sado, Andrea Battistoni, Andrey Boreyko or Mikhail Pletnev.
In 2012 Sorita became known to a wider audience overnight when he won 1st prize, the audience prize and three other special prizes at the 81st Japan Music Competition. He subsequently studied at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and then at the Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. In addition to invitations to St. Petersburg, where he made his debuts with a solo recital and with the Mariinsky Orchestra as part of the Russian International Music Festival, his debut recital at the sold-out Suntory Hall in Tokyo followed with great success in 2016.
Since then, Sorita has become one of the most sought-after pianists on the Japanese concert scene. He also plays chamber music regularly and is the founder, producer, and conductor of the Japanese National Orchestra. In 2019, he launched his own label. Sorita also produces a music salon “Solistiade”, a communication platform, connecting young musicians and music lovers.
His latest recording, Prokofiev’s piano concerto no. 3 with the Tonkünstler Orchestra under the baton of Yutaka Sado was released in 2021.