Piano NEWS 05/2006

  ...the most inspiring and high-quality musical performance in a long time

Interpretation: 6 out of 6 points

Sound: 6 out of 6 points

In the booklet from her CD featuring two Mozart concertos the young, Japanese-born Yu Kosuge states that Mozart aimed to create „a dialog between orchestra and soloist“. In her recording of his piano concertos no. 9 and no. 21 it seems that no one interprets that statement more believably than herself. Yu Kosuge demonstrates real flair for Mozart, which she plays with lightness and at the same time with full intensity and passion. Apart from technical perfection, which is not that unusual today, she possesses a stunning palette of expression and an exquisite and pearly touch. Conservative pedal usage emphasizes her crystal clear playing. Mozart himself couldn’t have wished for a fresher or more harmonic dialog with the orchestra, as she particularly demonstrates in the „Jeunehomme“ Concert. In the cadenzas, she exploits her freedom to lead a brilliant soloist monologue. Without playing too softly, she draws tremendous emotionality from both concerts’ slow movements. The frequently over-exaggerated romantic andante of the 21st concerto has seldom been heard in such a delicate and rich manner. The NDR Symphony Orchestra under Lawrence Foster is an equal and sensitive „dialog partner“ with the pianist: here, everything fits perfectly and results in arguably some of the most stimulating and high quality entertainment in a long time.

Isabel Fedrizzi

Two Times „Four Stars“ for Yu Kosuge’s New CD

Fono Forum - August 2006
Melody as Language

Mozart, the most difficult? Yu Kosuge has already played Chopin und Schumann, Liszt and Rachmaninow. Now the Japanese 22-year-old is taking on two of Mozart’s most famous piano concertos. In doing so, she confirms her reputation as one of the many talented and remarkable musicians surging from Asia towards Europe . When she was 9 years old, Yu Kosuge already wanted to move to Germany , the land of her favorite composers -- and she did. The young talent went to Hannover to study with Karl-Heinz Kämmerling. The fact that she asked advice from Andras Schiff illustrates this energetic young lady’s potential.
As soon as the NDR-Sinfonieorchester, under the attentive Lawrence Foster, formulates its well-paced triad signal, Kosuge’s performance in the „Jeunehomme“ Concert gets one’s attention in the impetuous opening phrase. She doesn’t reply, as so many do, with sweeping gestures, but rather with layered, dry inflection, which brings to mind the tones of the pianoforte. Yu Kosuge plays in C Major with spiritual transcendence, her elocution crystal clear, her rhythms confident without sacrificing melodic poetry. To this end, her interview comments about Kämmerling’s lessons – imagining melody as language – come to mind. The balance between witticism and seriousness, virtuosity and meaningful thought combined in a larger realm, remains. Her playing rarely forces her to over-wind her temperament and Kosuge’s interpretation of Mozart has the sophistication to never thrust itself forward in an exaggerated fashion. Her reputation as an artist is only fostered by the dauntless cadence in the first movement of KV 467.
Wolfgang Schreibe r

Music ****

Sound ****

hr2 – „Klassik-Zeit“ from 14.07.2006
Yu Kosuge: Remarkable Debut

Yu Kosuge’s debut of the Mozart Piano Concertos KV 271 and 467 with the NDR-Sinfonieorchester under Lawrence Foster was the July 14th „CD of the day“ on hr2. Her beautiful tone and symphonic approach to the piano concertos has primarily led her to be compared to Alfred Brendel and Christian Zacharias. There is no doubt that Yu Kosuge possesses the musical skills needed to play the concertos in a brilliant fashion. Her performance of the Jeunehomme Concert’s slow movement however, illustrates the fact that she also possesses musical insight and maturity. […] For the first time, 23-year-old Yu Kosuge performs with an orchestra, making for a remarkable debut.
Martin Grunenberg 

Mozart Piano Concertos KV 271 and 467
Yu Kosuge (Piano); NDR-Sinfonieorchester, Lawrence Foster
SONY BMG CD 82876810552