Cellist Haruma Sato’s New Album, “Mendelssohn”

Released on Deutsche Grammophon, the 25-year-old cellist performs Mendelssohn’s two cello sonatas and three selected works

Titled “On the Wings of Song — Mendelssohn Works,” this album is cellist Haruma Sato’s third on the Deutsche Grammophon label. Sato drew international attention in 2019 when he became the first Japanese artist to win Germany’s ARD International Cello Competition.

Also featuring pianist Wataru Hisasue, the album includes Mendelssohn’s On Wings of Song, Op. 34, No. 2; Song Without Words Op. 109, arranged for cello; and Variations Concertantes, Op. 17.

Additionally, the disc involves Mendelssohn’s rarely performed Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2. These works were written during the last few years of Mendelssohn’s life, coinciding with the period he penned his famous Violin Concerto in E minor around 1838 to 1844. 

Sato’s album was recorded over three days at the Chichibu Muse Park Music Hall in Japan. 

“The work is very simple and clear, but each sound seems to be filled with genuine emotion,” Sato said. “Please listen to the beautiful works of Mendelssohn with Wataru Kusue's wonderful piano!”

To purchase and listen to the album, click here. A music video for Sato’s performance of Wings of Song can be viewed below.

Born in 1998, Sato is a graduate of a high school program at the Tokyo University of the Arts and the University of the Arts Berlin. He has been mentored by Jens Peter Maintz, Frans Helmerson, David Geringas, Gustav Rivinius, Hans Jensen, and Jean-Guihen Queyras.

He has appeared solo with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Polish Radio, and performed at the Allegro Vivo Festival, International Mendelssohn Festival, and the University of the Arts Berlin Summer Festival.

His accolades include first prizes at Berlin’s Domenico Gabrielli Competition and Warsaw’s XI Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition, plus the Hideo Saito and the Idemitsu Music Awards.

Sato plays the 1903 Enrico Rocca cello — generously loaned by the Munetsugu Collection.