The record label Deutsche Grammophon has announced the exclusive signing of Japanese Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, known as Nobu. The partnership will include the release of Nobu’s debut album with DG in 2025, and will feature Beethoven’s Sonata No. 29 in B flat major Op. 106: Hammerklavier.

Speaking of the new deal, the pianist said ‘Deutsche Grammophon has released many iconic recordings by great pianists such as Martha Argerich and Maurizio Pollini, and I have been listening to its CDs since I was a child,’ adding ‘I am very proud to sign with this prestigious label that has been a leader in classical music.’

Tsujii won the Van Cliburn Competition in 2009 which propelled him to success in Japan. Born blind, the pianist started playing on a toy piano at the age of two and made his recital debut at Tokyo’s Suntory Hall at the age of twelve. It was with this momentum that carried him to the semifinals of the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2005. Since then, he has given recitals at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall and the Royal Albert Hall as well as performing with Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Vladimir Jurowski and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Clemens Trautmann, President of Deutsche Grammophon said ‘I was captivated when I heard him perform in London last year. He’s a truly exciting musician, blessed with rare musical inventiveness and insight, which may also stem from the fact that he perceives the world differently. His playing goes straight to the heart…’