Heimat

The concept of Heimat—the German word for ‘homeland’—is a universal and deeply personal idea. Pianist Kenji Miura explores this theme, not as a geographical fact, but as a state of being we can choose for ourselves.

A Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition winner, Miura is an artist whose own life mirrors this global search, having lived across continents before settling in Berlin. He sees the album as a musical exploration into the concept of a chosen home.

The works on the album by three iconic German composers—Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms—provide a musical compass for this journey. From the powerful pursuit in Beethoven's Appassionata to the profound introspection of Brahms's Seven Fantasies, the album’s narrative traces a path to understanding what it means to belong.

This musical journey has taken on an even deeper dimension as Miura embarks on his new role as a father. His choice of repertoire serves as a deeply personal reflection of this new perspective. Through the innocent vision of Schumann’s Kinderszenen, Miura re-examines the world through a child’s eyes, bringing a tender touch to iconic pieces like Träumerei. He finds a sense of profound peace in Brahms’s tender Wiegenlied, a universal lullaby that embodies the ultimate sense of comfort and security.

Through this music, Miura invites listeners to consider their own personal path to finding a Heimat—a place in the world and in music that they can call their own.