ARTISTS

Stero Hi-Fi Magazine (December 1983) lavished her with such praise as,“Together with Clara Haskil and Vladimir Horowitz, the letter〝H〟will stand for Harumi Hanafusa in the almanac of great pianists.”

Born in Tokyo, Harumi Hanafusa graduated with high honors from the piano department of Tokyo’s renowned Toho Gakuen School of Music.  After which, she received a scholarship from the government of France to pursue further studies at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique, where she studied piano under Pierre Sancan, and chamber music under Jean Hubeau.

During that time, Ms Hanafusa won the second prize in the Monza International Competition, the third prize in the Concerto Internazionale di Musica Gian Battista Viotti （no first prize was awarded), and also was a finalist at the Queen Elisabeth International Music competition Belgium in 1975 and received the composer’s award for performance of the new concerto.  The very next year she was awarded the second prize in the Gyorgy Cziffre International Piano Competition（no first prize was awarded) and was named by judges as“the most impressive pianist.”Moreover, she received a gold medal at France’s Bordeaux Music Festival.

Ms Hanafusa’s career currently focuses on recitals, chamber music, and collaboration with major ensembles throughout Japan. She performs regularly with Japan’s major orchestras, including NHK Symphony Orchestra and was often broadcasted on radio and television as well. Not only with Japanese orchestras but also with orchestras in Europ, United States, and Asia, such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Slovak philharmonic, Orchestre Colonne, Liszt Ferenc Kamarazenekar, Ensemble Wien Berlin, she performs with, and had toured with them in France, UK, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Hungary, U.S.A., Hong Kong, Thailand, and other Asian countries.  Recently, she attended Music Festival in Cannes and was highly acclaimed as “Brilliant playing with great technique.”

In 2007, to celebrate 30th anniversary since debut in Japan, Ms. Hanafusa held recitals in Kioi Hall (Tokyo) for 2 continuous nights. Her recent remarkable activities include a US debut recital in Carnegie Hall in 2011, participation in SOIRÉE ANNIVERSAIRE Franz LISZT et Georges CZIFFRA, and chamber music concerts with Philippe Giusiano, Yves Henry, and Jean-Philippe Collard. In 2010, she started a recital series to introduce French music named “Music Atelier,” and “Soirée Vol.15 Piano Duo” will be held on November 15th, 2018.
Harumi Hanfusa’s recordings include well-received French releases of Ravel’s “Gaspard de la Nuit, Miroirs” (Diapson,1982) and Debussy’s Overture No.1 (Diapson,1983).  Other notable recordings include; a collection of Liszt works; Debussy’s Overture No 2; Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition”; Ravel’s “Pavane pour une infante défunte”; Duo CD with her sister, Mami Hanafusa “A graceful Frame”; Liszt’s Piano Concerto / Tchaikovsky’ Piano Concerto with Ken Takaseki / New Japan Philharmonic among many others. With the success of her collection of popular works, a second collection has been released entitled “Encore, Harumi Hanafusa.” The most recent CD is “French Chamber Music Live Series III”