Human Universe CD

Release Date November 1, 2024

CD Edition

Sony Classical announces the upcoming release of "Human Universe," by the extraordinary young New York-based Japanese pianist and composer, Hayato Sumino (aka "Cateen"), scheduled for November 1, 2024. The first single from the album, Ravel's "Pavane pour une infante défunte," will be released on July 12, 2024.

Sumino is an exceptional artistic phenomenon: Known as "Cateen," he has over 1.5 million followers worldwide across his platforms and nearly 200 million views on YouTube to date. His participation in the 2021 International Chopin Competition, where he reached the semi-finals, caused a sensation and garnered over 8.5 million views on YouTube. In April 2024, he made a spectacular debut at the Royal Albert Hall with his rendition of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," captivating attention both online and in the concert hall.

"Human Universe" reveals Sumino's multifaceted talents in a diverse selection of works ranging from Bach, Handel, Purcell, Chopin, Fauré, and Debussy to iconic film composers like Hans Zimmer and Ryuichi Sakamoto, as well as Sumino's own compositions and arrangements. The recording showcases his distinctive style, seamlessly fusing his refined classical technique with the discerning ear of an arranger and an exceptional talent for improvisation.

A prodigious composer, Hayato Sumino possesses a unique and captivating style that effortlessly combines his diverse musical interests, ranging from classical music and jazz to film music, post-classical, and electronica. He is also highly sought after for composing film and TV scores in Japan, and is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the leading members of the next generation of musicians for whom genre boundaries simply are not an obstacle.