The long-awaited Nobuyuki Tsujii Deutsche Grammonphon debut album is finally being released!

BEETHOVEN "Hammerklavier"& "To My Distant Lover"

CD release in Japan on November 29
Limited edition (with a DVD) ¥3,900; regular edition ¥3,300 - available for pre-order at
https://www.universal-music.co.jp/nobuyuki-tsujii/products/uccg-40132/
Amazon Japan link
Worldwide: Digital release on November 29; physical release March 21, 2025.

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Deutsche Grammophon page for the album
https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/beethoven-nobuyuki-tsujii-13641
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Nobuyuki Tsujii
An die ferne Geliebte, Op. 98 (Arr. Liszt for Solo Piano as S. 469)
Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-Flat Major, OP. 106 "Hammerklavier"
November 29, 2024
Also available in Dolby Atmos®
Label Deutsche Grammophon (DG)
UPC 00028948668946
Artists/Composer: Nobuyuki Tsuji,i Ludwig van Beethoven

  CD Journal article
[Translated from Japanese]

https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/tsujii-nobuyuki/113471

Nobuyuki Tsujii releases his Deutsche Grammophon debut album, including "Hammerklavier"

   Nobuyuki Tsujii, the first Japanese pianist to sign an exclusive contract with the prestigious label Deutsche Grammophon (DG), will release his debut album "Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 "Hammerklavier", To My Distant Lover" from DG on Friday, November 29th. In addition to digital distribution, the CD will also be released in Japan on the same day. The Japanese CD will be released in two versions: a regular version and a first-run limited edition that includes a DVD containing Tsujii's latest videos. The physical release overseas is scheduled for Friday, March 21, 2025.



　"Hammerklavier" is the piece that Tsujii played when he won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009, and it is one of the most difficult pieces for performers among Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas. Beethoven composed this piece between 1817 and 1818, a time of personal suffering and creative stagnation, and upon completion it gave him new creative energy.

　The Hammerklavier was a difficult piece for Tsujii, as it was for all pianists. Tsujii said, "It's a long piece, so it was hard to stay focused. I spent a lot of time preparing for the recording. I had a particularly hard time with the third movement. The more I played it, including making the music my own, the more I felt its depth. Beethoven's circumstances overlap with my own experience in some ways. Even though he lost his hearing, he left behind a wonderful and difficult piece like this sonata. That's why I approached it with respect for Beethoven." 

At the end of the second day of recording, Tsujii rehearsed the long and complex third movement of the Hammerklavier in preparation for the actual recording the next morning. At the producer's request, he played it again at a slightly faster tempo. Tsujii's concentration was extremely high when he started recording the next morning, and his first performance reached a level of precision, expressiveness, and emotional depth that impressed the recording team. That version will be included on the album. 

The other work is "To the Faraway Lover," a song cycle arranged by Liszt for solo piano in 1816. In preparation for the recording, Tsujii delved deeply into the poems of the six songs, as well as the music. "I was deeply moved by the poems. I thought that this expressive song cycle and the Hammerklavier would create a good synergy," Tsujii said.

　Clemens Trautmann, president of DG, said, "Nobu (Tsujii) approached the session with the same high level of concentration and positive attitude as when he takes to the concert stage.""His strong will and enthusiasm to perform the two contrasting pieces in a way that is appropriate for them impressed the entire team. I am pleased to be able to deliver his wonderful interpretation to listeners around the world." He is confident about the album's outcome.

(c)Harald Hoffmann / Deutsche Grammophon

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https://www.universal-music.co.jp/nobuyuki-tsujii/

Product Introduction
Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii takes on the spectacular and difficult "Hammerklavier" once again! His
Deutsche Grammophon debut album, released in Japan first!

■"Hammerklavier" is the piece Tsujii performed when he won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009, and of all 32 of Beethoven's piano sonatas, it is one of the most difficult pieces for a performer in terms of technique, mental effort, and scale. Tsujii says, "It's a long piece, so it was hard to maintain concentration.""I spent a lot of time preparing for the recording. The third movement was particularly difficult. The more I played it, including making the music my own, the more I felt its depth. Beethoven's circumstances overlap with my own experiences in some ways. Even though he lost his hearing, he left behind wonderful, yet difficult works such as this sonata. That is why I approached this with respect for Beethoven." 

In preparation for the recording of the song cycle "To the Distant Beloved," which Liszt arranged for solo piano in 1816, Tsujii dug deep into the poems of the six songs, just as he did with the music. "I was moved by the poems. I thought that this expressive song cycle and the Hammerklavier would surely create a good synergy," Tsujii said.

LIMITED EDITION
https://www.universal-music.co.jp/nobuyuki-tsujii/products/uccg-40132/

TRACKLIST

Beethoven/Liszt: Song Cycle "To the Distant Lover" Op.98 / S.46

Track 1. Sitting on a Hill
Track 2: From the grey mist
Track 3: A light sailing ship in the sky
Track 4: The clouds in the sky
Track 5: May returns, flowers bloom in the fields
Track 6: For you, my love

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major, Op.106 "Hammerklavier"

Track 7: 1st movement: Allegro
Track 8: 2nd movement: Scherzo. Assai vivace
Track 9: 3rd Movement: Adagio sostenuto
Track 10: 4th movement: Largo – Allegro risoluto

DVD  -- The latest footage will be included

REGULAR EDITION

https://www.universal-music.co.jp/nobuyuki-tsujii/products/uccg-45109/


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A video posted by universalsclassics.jp on instagram, of Nobu (wearing a long-sleeve black shirt) promoting the release of the album, speaking in Japanese

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NOV 28 2024

Tweet by Deutsche Grammophon Japan:

https://x.com/dgclassicsjapan/status/1862059104513958125

明日、辻󠄀井伸行のDGデビュー・アルバムが発売となります！ベートーヴェンの《ハンマークラヴィーア》と《遥かなる恋人に》を収録した注目の一枚です。
こちらは、夏に行われた録音の様子📸録音技師と綿密に打ち合わせを行いながらの、充実した録音セッションとなりました。アルバムはすでに予約受付中→ https://universal-music.co.jp/nobuyuki-tsujii/products/uccg-40132/
Tomorrow, 󠄀 Tsujii's DG debut album will be released! It is a highly anticipated album that includes Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" and "To the Distant Lover."
This is a photo of the recording session that took place in the summer 📸 . The recording session was very productive, with detailed discussions with the recording engineer. The album is already available for pre-order → https://universal-music.co.jp/nobuyuki-tsujii/products/uccg-40132/

NOV 12 2024

Posted by Deutsche Grammophon
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=929051485805194 

"As we look forward to the release of
@nobuyukitsujii_'s DG debut album, let's find out how he fell in love with the piano when he was only 8 months old!  → http://dgt.link/Nobu-Beethoven" 

with English subtitles.

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