In August I was in Armenia for a recording with the Armenia State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sergey Smbatyan. The repertoire was of songs by Artur Grigoryan, an important Armenia composer in the latter half of the 20th century. His songs were deservedly popular, and Martin Ulikhanyan arranged them for large orchestra for the recording.

Returning to Hamburg, more songs, these by Oliver Gruhn. Sebastian Lang-Lessing conducted the Hamburger Symphoniker in three major song cycles, as well as two songs by Richard Strauss completed and orchestrated by Gruhn. Shortly afterwards I went to London to record a varied program including Bernstein’s Serenade with Esther Yoo and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Long Yu.

In November we started an important project with Lang Lang in Paris. ‘Piano Book II’ continues a theme initiated in the first Piano Book album. It is a collection of classical masterpieces, modern favorites and treasured themes from gaming, anime, and film.