CONCERT TOUR OF JAPAN & KOREA
— 20 February 2020
As part of his regular annual tour of the countries of the Far East, between 7th and 19th February 2020 Maestro Pogorelich performed at six concerts in Japan (Takasaki, Yokohama, Osaka and two concerts at Suntory Hall in Tokyo), and South Korea (Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul). At those concerts Pogorelich played works from his current recital program – English Suite No. 3 by J. S. Bach, Sonata in B-flat Major, Op. 22 by Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin’s Prelude op. 45 & Barcarolle Op. 60 as well as one of the most significant works from his repertoary – a famous piano cycle Gaspard de la Nuit by Maurice Ravel.
Also, Maestro Pogorelich had the two performances with Yomiuri Nippon Sumphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Kazuki Yamada with whom he played Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in Osaka and Tokyo. After the concert at Suntory Hall, Maestro Pogorelich met with the renowned Japanese writer, Haruki Murakami and received as a present his new book. Murakami, a great classical music aficionado, but also one of Pogorelich’s favourite writers, mentioned Pogorelich in one of his bestselling novels, After Dark, from 2004.
During the visit of Korea, Maestro Pogorelich played a recital at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul. His return to Korea after a few years aroused a great media interest. A famous Korean “Journal of Music” published the interview with the pianist dedicating the cover page of the February issue to him.
Pogorelich’s concerts in China, which were unfortunately canceled due to the situation with the corona virus pandemic, have been rescheduled for March 2021. More information about the new dates in China and Japan find here .