Japan’s rising pianist Fujita Mao has gained international acclaim for his interpretations of Mozart, including a highly praised recording of the complete Mozart Piano Sonatas, his debut album released in October 2022.

Having performed the complete sonatas at major venues like the Verbier Festival, Wigmore Hall, and concert halls across Japan, Fujita, 26, is now set to showcase a different side of his artistry.

“Mozart is, without a doubt, my favorite composer. More than 50 percent of the concertos I perform are by him, and I’m grateful he composed 27 -- it means I can continue to challenge myself every year. But I also want to expand my repertoire and explore beyond Mozart,” he said in a recent email interview.

For his first recital in Korea, Fujita will take a break from Mozart to perform Alexander Scriabin’s 24 Preludes, Op. 11 and Fantasie in B minor, Op. 28, along with Frederic Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Op. 28.

“Chopin and Scriabin’s 24 preludes form a kind of musical cycle, showcasing a sense of harmonic circulation,” Fujita explained, adding that Chopin admired Bach and Bach’s influence can be found throughout Chopin’s works, particularly in his harmonic transitions and chromatic progressions.

“Scriabin, in turn, was deeply inspired by Chopin, which makes performing their Preludes together a fascinating contrast. Although Scriabin revered Chopin, he forged his own distinct musical path,” Fujita noted.

“This performance presents an excellent opportunity to explore and compare the two composers’ tonal colors, harmonic language, and structural development, offering listeners a deeper appreciation of their musical evolution,” he added.

Fujita also shared his excitment about presenting his first recital in Korea.

“I know many Korean artists, and I’ve always admired their musicianship. It makes me curious about their cultural and musical upbringing,” he said.

“In 2023, I visited Korea with the Czech Philharmonic, and before that, I performed at the Seoul Arts Center in a gala concert after the Tchaikovsky Competition. I noticed how incredibly focused and passionate Korean audiences are, which makes me even more thrilled to present my first solo recital here.”

Beyond performing, Fujita has a deep personal interest in Korean culture.

“I enjoy Korean films and dramas, and my family and I often watch them together. And of course, I can’t wait to try Korean food, especially the spicy dishes,” he added.

Fujita began playing piano at three and won multiple international awards, including at the Rosario Marciano International Piano Competition and the Zhuhai International Mozart Competition. He gained global attention in 2019 when he won the silver medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition.

His first Korean recital will take place at 5 PM on Feb. 23 at the Seoul Arts Center. Tickets range from 30,000 to 80,000 won.

When asked about his interests beyond music, he shared, “I’ve stepped away from social media entirely since last December. I used to follow updates on artists like Lim Yunchan and world orchestras, but I eventually realized that music itself connects us more deeply than online posts. While I still share updates when necessary, I now consider ‘social media distancing’ my hobby.”