About Reiko HOZU
around of Art…
Reiko Hozu's interpretations of modern classical piano repertoire have drawn accolades from audiences and composers alike, repertoire that includes music of Ravel, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Berg, Berio, Ligeti, and Kagel. Karlheinz Stockhausen notably singled out Reiko in 2005, bestowing upon her the prize for interpretation of the Klavierstücke X (Piano Pieces X) at his annual festival in Kürten near Köln, Germany. Stockhausen's repertoire is a natural vehicle for Reiko's highly-charged and personal style of performing, calling for extended techniques on the piano, but also for extensive choreography, speaking, singing, and playing percussion at the same time. Reiko's enthusiasm and flexibility on stage have led to many successful collaborations.
A significant part of Reiko Hozu’s career has taken place outside France, in Germany (Schleswig-Holstein Festival), Vienna, Geneva (Victoria Hall), Brussel (Palais des beaux-arts), Italy, Iceland, Tokyo (Opera City Hall), and in Seoul (Kumho Art Hall). In France, she has appeared as a soloist in Paris at the Opéra Garnier (Petrouchka conducted by Paul Connelly), at the Cité de la Musique (Kammerkonzert by Alban Berg), and in 3 Petites Liturgies de la Présence Divine by Olivier Messiaen, with orchestras of Radio-France, the O.F.J. under conductor Emmanuel Krivine, and the Orchestre Colonne. In 2004, she was the soloist in Stravinsky’s Concerto with the Orchestre National d’Ile de France with the conductor Jonathan Stockhammer. She has played in venues such as Salle Gaveau, Salle Pleyel, and the Théâtre du Châtelet, and appeared at festivals in Sceaux, Périgord, St. Etienne (Piano Passion), and in Agen (Artepiano). Her performances have been broadcast on the radio (France-Musiques) and television (Arte, Mezzo, FR3).
Born in Japan, Reiko Hozu won a brilliant First Prize at the J.S. Bach Competition in Tokyo. In 1996, she received a “Soloist Diploma” from the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Stuttgart, Germany, after studying with Oleg Maisenberg. She then entered the Postgraduate class of Homero Francesch at the Zürich Konservatorium, Switzerland, where she was awarded the Landolt Prize. She also worked closely with Yevgeny Malinin, making her a privileged interpreter of the great Russian and romantic works for piano. In France, she developed her artistic personality by working with musicians such as Jean Hubeau, Jean Koerner, Jacques Rouvier, Alain Marion, Raymond Guiot, Michèle Auclair and Jorge Donn.
She was also the Official Pianist for the Long-Thibaud Competition, Jean-Pierre Rampal Competition, and the Rostropovitch Competition in Paris.
In 2005, she was awarded the Stockhausen Prize from the composer himself for the best performance of the Klavierstück X at the Seminar in Kürten, Germany.
Reiko Hozu’s CD of Scriabin piano works released in 2012, and the 2nd album «Souvenirs» released in 2015.
In recital, Reiko often includes pieces from epochs that range from the Baroque to world-premieres, hoping to open dialogue between music that audiences have long absorbed and new pieces which are being heard for the first time. Reiko now makes her home in Paris. Since 2000, she has been a Professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris.