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The Royal Festival Hall is closed to the public on Tuesday 16 June. It will reopen for Harry Styles & Jules Buckley Orchestra ticket holders only at 5pm.

Portrait of Hayato Sumino in a pale oversized coat
View all events for category: Classical music

Hayato Sumino Presents Chopin Orbit

Pianist and composer Hayato Sumino explores Chopin’s timeless influence through some of the composer’s masterpieces alongside fresh new sounds.

Hayato Sumino first drew international attention at the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition. His performances reflect a deep love for Chopin’s music, as well as a similar passion for other classical works, new music and even improvisation.

Sumino’s eagerly anticipated second album, Chopin Orbit places the music of Chopin at its centre to create a conceptually rich and emotionally resonant soundscape.

This concert brings together major Chopin works including the dark drama of the Second Piano Sonata and the intensity of the First Scherzo, plus a dazzling selection of études and mazurkas.

Sumino’s own pieces grow directly from Chopin’s sound-world. He offers new perspectives on the Raindrop Prelude and the Berceuse in D flat, alongside original works that echo Chopin’s lyricism in a musical language of our own times.

Saint-Saëns’ devilish Danse macabre, Adès’ sharply etched Mazurka and music from Stravinsky’s The Firebird bring brilliance, colour and dramatic energy.

Moving between past and present, Sumino traces the trajectory of a composer whose influence continues to shape new music.

Performers

Hayato Sumino piano

Repertoire

Chopin: Scherzo No.1 in B minor, Op.20; Etude in A flat, Op.25 No.1

Hayato Sumino: Lydian harp; Raindrop postlude (Improvisation on Chopin's Prelude in D flat, Op.28 No.15 (Raindrop))

Chopin: Piano Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, Op.35 (Marche funèbre)

Saint-Saëns: Danse macabre

Interval

Chopin: 3 Mazurkas, Op.59

Thomas Adès: Mazurka, Op.27 No.2

Chopin: Etude in G flat, Op.10 No.5 (Black keys)

Hayato Sumino: White keys; Imaginary polonaise; Improvisation on the ostinato from Chopin's Berceuse in D flat, Op.57

Chopin: Etude in A minor, Op.25 No.11 (Winter wind)

Stravinsky: 3 Movements from The Firebird Suite arr. Guido Agosti for piano

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 7+. Under-12s must be accompanied by an adult on our site.

Reviews

‘Sumino stunned and charmed with his playing as well as his own compositions’San Francisco Classical Voice

For your visit

This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre

The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.