Human Universe LP

Release Date: November 1, 2024

LP Edition

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

Sumino is an exceptional artistic phenomenon: Known as "Cateen," he boasts over 1.5 million followers worldwide across his platforms and nearly 200 million views on YouTube to date. His participation in the 2021 Chopin International Competition, where he reached the semifinals, created 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 performance of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," successfully capturing 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 such as 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 fascinating style that effortlessly combines his diverse musical interests, ranging from classical music and jazz to film music, post-classical, and electronic. He is also highly sought after for composing film and TV scores in Japan, and is quickly establishing himself as one of the leading members of the next generation of musicians for whom genre boundaries simply are not an obstacle.