„Rheinische Brücke“: Piano Recital with the Japanese pianist HIROTA Sara
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 2:00 pm
Admission free; no registration required!

The theme of this concert is the “Bridge” – specifically, the bridge located in Düsseldorf on the Rhine. In her program, Japanese pianist HIROTA Sara explores the unifying power of music, both in terms of interpersonal relationships and the cultural exchange between Japan and Germany. She shines a light on the intricate web of personal and artistic connections surrounding Robert SCHUMANN, a figure deeply rooted in Düsseldorf. In doing so, she presents works written by SCHUMANN himself; by his great idol, Ludwig van BEETHOVEN; by his wife, Clara SCHUMANN; and by Norbert BURGMÜLLER – the young Düsseldorf genius whom Schumann once praised in the highest terms.
Interwoven with these European influences is the historical and vibrant connection between Japan and Germany. The pianist introduces works by pioneering Japanese composers: TAKI Rentarō , the first to introduce Western music theory to Japan; by YAMADA Kōsaku , who paved new paths in classical music by incorporating Japanese elements; and by HOSOKAWA Toshio, who today plays a central role in the musical landscapes of both nations. Through these works, she demonstrates how these musicians internalized the German tradition and, from it, forged a distinctively Japanese identity within the realm of classical music.

We warmly invite you to join us for this fascinating encounter! Children are also very welcome to attend.

Japanese pianist HIROTA Sara began playing the piano at the age of three; she later pursued studies at the Kyoto City University of Arts as well as the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg (Germany). She is currently a doctoral candidate at the Kyoto City University of Arts. She authored a thesis on the concept of ma (silence/interspace) in the piano works of Japanese composer HOSOKAWA Toshio, who himself once studied in Germany. As a scholarship recipient of the EKŌ Center of Japanese Culture, she is currently researching the relationship between abstract concepts and musical expression in HOSOKAWA’s “Études I–VI”. Alongside her academic work, she devotes herself intensively to concert performance, with a particular focus on Japanese and German repertoire.

Photo: © HIROTA Sara