Human Universe

Sony Classical announces the upcoming release of ‘Human Universe’ by extraordinary young New York-based Japanese pianist and composer, Hayato Sumino (aka ‘Cateen’), scheduled for release on November 1, 2024. The 1^st single release of the album “Pavane pour une infante défunte” by Ravel is out now.

Sumino is an exceptional artistic phenomenon: Known as ‘Cateen’, he has garnered over 1.5 million followers globally across his platforms and nearly 200 million views on YouTube to date. His participation at the 2021 International Chopin competition, where he reached the semifinals, caused a sensation and gained over 8.5M views on YouTube. In April 2024, he made a spectacular Royal Albert Hall debut with his performance of Gershwin's ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ capturing the spotlight both online and in the concert hall.

‘Human Universe’ showcases Sumino’s multi-faceted gifts in a diverse selection of works that run the gamut 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 highlights his distinctive style, seamlessly merging his refined classical technique with the discerning ear of an arranger and exceptional improvisational talent.

A prodigious composer, Hayato Sumino possesses a unique and captivating style that effortlessly combines his diverse musical interests, ranging from classical and jazz to film music, post-classical, and electronica. He is also much in-demand for film and TV scores in Japan and is rapidly gaining a place as one of the leading members of the next generation of musicians for whom genre borders are simply no obstacle. 

Photo credit: Clemens Ascher