Pianist Mao Fujita makes most of short pieces in delightful recital

The final piano recital of the calendar year, presented by Altenburg Arts, featured Berlin-based Japanese pianist Mao Fujita.

- Chang Tou Liang

He shot to fame after winning first prize at the Clara Haskil InterPiano national Competition (Switzerland, 2017) and second prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition (Moscow, 2019). He also has several critically acclaimed recordings under his belt.

Implausibly boyish-looking, the 26-year-old sloped on and off the stage like someone three times his age. Appearing shy to a fault, he even seemed embarrassed by the applause by taking short and tentative bows. Thankfully, he let his playing do the talking and the ice was immediately broken.

He opened the recital with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Variations On Ah Vous Dirai-je, Maman (K. 265), better known as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

This is almost never heard outside children's piano recitals, but he made a most persuasive case by playing all the repeats and freely sprinkling delicious ornaments.