Takayuki Mihara - Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 14, 30 & 31 (2024)

The first recording by the up-and-coming Takayuki Mihara is three of Beethoven's masterpiece piano sonatas. Dedicated to the memory of his former teacher Akiko Sugitani, who passed away suddenly in 2019, the piety that pervades the entire work adds depth to the music. ＜Takayuki Mihara graduated from Kaisei Junior High School and Senior High School, and received his B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Keio University. Later, she studied under Akiko Sugitani, who became her lifelong teacher. She was fascinated by the gentle yet powerful music of her teacher's piano playing, and under her guidance, pursued the pursuit of beautiful sound. She performed with the Prima Vista String Quartet and the Polish Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra, and became passionate about bringing out a variety of tones from the piano. In 2009, she won the third prize in the junior high school division of the Asia International Music Competition and the first prize in the junior high school division of the same competition in 2010, and has had opportunities to perform in Japan and abroad, including appearances at the Xi'an Music Academy and the Vienna State University of Music's Liszt-Saal. In 2010, she won a prize in the Special Division of the 1st European International Piano Competition in Japan, and has continued her studies in order to inherit her teacher's view of music. In recent years, she has been performing solo concerts at the request of the Christian churches and universities she has attended since childhood, giving concerts with other pianists who are also students of Akiko Sugitani, and performing in concerts organized by the Kaisei Piano Enthusiasts' Association. He has studied with Nobumichi Koyanagi at the Music School attached to Musashino Academia Musicae and with Kyoniko Yamamoto at the Music School for Children attached to Toho Gakuen School of Music, as well as with the late Akiko Sugitani.

Tracklist
01. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110: I. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
02. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110: II. Allegro molto
03. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-Flat Major, Op. 110: III. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro ma non troppo
04. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight": I. Adagio sostenuto
05. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight": II. Allegretto
06. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2 "Moonlight": III. Presto agitato
07. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109: I. Vivace ma non troppo, sempre legato - Adagio espressivo
08. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109: II. Prestissimo
09. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109: III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo