Nobuyuki Tsujii
Piano

Described by The Observer as the “definition of virtuosity” Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii (Nobu), who has been blind from birth, won the joint Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009 and has gone on to earn an international reputation for the passion and excitement he brings to his live performances.

In concert, Nobu has appeared with leading orchestras worldwide including the Mariinsky Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, NHK Symphony, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony, Tokyo Symphony and Japan Philharmonic, Seattle and Baltimore symphony orchestras, Münchner Philharmoniker, Filarmonica della Scala and Sinfonieorchester Basel under the baton of conductors such as Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Vladimir Spivakov, Juanjo Mena and Vassily Petrenko.

As a recitalist, Nobu has performed at major cities across North America including at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium and regularly appears at prestigious venues in Europe such as the Théâtre des Champs Elysées in Paris, Royal Albert Hall in London, Berlin Philharmonie, and Musikverein in Vienna.

In the 2018/19 season, Nobu returns to both the Iceland Symphony Orchestra under Vladimir Ashkenazy, and the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra under Valery Gergiev. He then goes on a tour of the US East Coast and Asia with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. In London, Nobu debuts in the International Piano Series at Southbank Centre. Other engagements this season include appearances at Rostropovich Festival and a number of recitals in Germany (such as Berlin Philharmonie and Stuttgart Liederhalle among others).

Last season’s highlights include performances at the White Nights Festival in Moscow under Valery Gergiev, concerts with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Vassily Petrenko, and Tonkünstler Orchestra under Yutaka Sado at Vienna’s Musikverein.

An exclusive recording artist for Avex Classics International, Nobu’s albums include Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2 with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 with Yutaka Sado and the BBC Philharmonic, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.5 with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and recital discs of Chopin, Mozart, Debussy and Liszt. Last season, Nobu recorded Rachmaninov’s Variations on a theme of Paganini under Vassily Petrenko with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

A live DVD recording of Nobu’s 2011 Carnegie Hall recital was named DVD of the Month by Gramophone, as was his latest DVD release, ‘Touching the Sound - The Improbable Journey of Nobuyuki Tsujii’, a documentary film by Peter Rosen. 

Nobu’s international tours are supported by All Nippon Airways (ANA) and he gratefully acknowledges their assistance.