Nobuyuki Tsujii piano

Listen to Nobuyuki's music

Described by The Observer as the “definition of virtuosity” Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii (Nobu), who has been blind from birth, won the joint Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009 and has gone on to earn an international reputation for the passion and excitement he brings to his live performances. His electrifying performance prompted the contest’s founder to declare that he was “absolutely miraculous”. Nobu’s performance, he continued, had “the power of a healing service. It was truly divine.”
That verdict was soon endorsed by audiences and critics drawn to hear Nobu's debuts on the world’s most prestigious stages, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, London’s Royal Albert Hall and Wigmore Hall, the Vienna Musikverein, the Berlin Philharmonie, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris and the main auditorium of Tokyo’s Suntory Hall. Nobu also became the subject of a documentary directed by the eminent film-maker Peter Rosen: Touching the Sound: The Improbable Journey of Nobuyuki Tsujii (2014), having already featured prominently in the director’s film about the 13th Van Cliburn Competition, A Surprise in Texas (2010).
“Technically, there are no limits to Nobuyuki Tsujii. He transforms Liszt's Rigoletto paraphrase into a character scene with casually thrown away octaves and sparkling runs, before demonstrating his crystalline tone in a small selection of Ravel gems.”

“…he is carrying it [music] forward, with such traditional values as seriousness, musical plausibility, and a focus on beautiful tone. This is what makes him stand out and makes his audience applaud with hands and feet after the final encore, Liszt's La Campanella.“
Paul Schäufele, Süddeutsche Zeitung, April 2026
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“A mainstream classical musician of superstar status” ★★★★★
Steve Moffatt, Limelight, October 2024
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“His energy seemed to galvanise the audience and I think they were more breathless than the pianist.”
Tony Burke, ClassikON, October 2024
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“A concert performance that must surely stand as one of the most thrilling, and incredibly thoughtful, ever given anywhere. […] His technique is flawless, and his note accuracy is second to none. […] What a privilege to hear this artist play.” ★★★★★
Limelight, October 2024
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“Nobuyuki Tsujii’s performance will be long remembered.”
Mark Bridle, Seen & Heard International, September 2023
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“A combination of phenomenal technique and commitment.”
BachTrack, Chris Garlick, June 2023
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“Extraordinary” ★★★★
The Telegraph, November 2022