Junichi Ito - The Chopin Cyclus - Vol. 1: Maestoso - Japan SACD Hybrid

Credits:

Junichi Ito

Description:

[Volume 1 of the Complete Chopin Piano Solo Works Recording Project by Junichi Ito, the “Poet of the Piano”] This is the first volume of “The Chopin Cycle,” a long-term project spanning approximately eight years by pianist Junichi Ito—winner of first prize at the Japan Chopin Piano Competition, recipient of the Japan Chopin Association Award, and a prize winner at numerous other international competitions—to record Chopin’s complete solo piano works. Over the past eight years, Ito has honed his craft in France at institutions such as the Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique, the Lyon Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique, and the École Normale de Musique de Paris. He has earned high acclaim for his deeply moving music, rooted in the mainstream European musical tradition, and for his orthodox technique that eschews gimmicks. The way the melodies breathe naturally, as if they were human voices; the rich, deep harmonies woven from a diverse palette of timbres; and the delicate quality of the sound that quietly reaches the depths of the listener’s heart are the major charms that characterize Ito’s performances. The philosophy of “playing as if singing”—which can be considered the very foundation of Chopin’s artistry—resonates deeply with Ito’s artistic vision. He began studying piano at the age of four. After graduating from the High School of Music affiliated with the Tokyo University of the Arts, he moved to France in 2011 while still a student at the university to further his studies at the Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique, the Lyon Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique, and the École Normale de Musique de Paris. He has won first prize at international competitions such as the Châtaudun International Piano Competition, the Stefano Marizza International Piano Competition, and the Nice International Piano Competition. He has performed with the Bacau Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre Soundif, and the Croatian Radio Symphony Orchestra, among others. He won first prize at the 4th Japan Chopin Piano Competition and received the 47th Japan Chopin Society Award. She received a diploma at the 18th International Chopin Competition. Her debut album, *Profond*, was selected as a “Special Selection” by *Record Arts* magazine and, along with her second album, *L’Espoir*, which features exclusively French works, has been well received. She has studied under Ryoko Oikawa, Haruhi Hata, Kimihiko Kitajima, Mariko Horie, Chiharu Sakai, and Henri Barda. She has also taken lessons from Anne Queffélec, Mikhail Voskresensky, Yves Henri, Dina Yoffe, Philippe Giusiano, and Kyoko Hashimoto, among others. Currently, while serving as a lecturer at Kobe Jogakuin University, she performs primarily in the Tokyo and Kansai regions. (As of July 2026) Naxos Japan