Japanese violinist Himari has become the youngest artist ever to reach the Top 3 of Japan’s Oricon Weekly Album Ranking with a classical album.
The 15-year-old musician entered at No.3 in the all genres chart with her first album, titled Debut, which was released by Decca Classics.
The result came in the same week as three sold-out performances in Japan with the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Antonio Pappano.
Tower Records also featured Himari across 64 displays nationwide, in what is understood to be its first campaign of this kind for a classical artist.
Debut features a live recording of her European debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Sebastian Weigle, performing Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No.1 at the Philharmonie. She was just 13 at the time, making her the youngest Asian soloist to appear with the orchestra in a subscription concert.
This is a sensational success and incredible recognition for Himari’s extraordinary talent
Laura Monks
In addition, the album pairs the concerto with Wieniawski’s Fantasia on Themes from Faust and works by Chopin, Godowsky and Sibelius.
Published weekly, the Oricon album chart ranks releases across all genres. Japan remains the world’s second largest music market.
Laura Monks, president of Decca Records, said: “This is a sensational success and incredible recognition for Himari’s extraordinary talent. A moment to remember in the history of Decca Classics.”
Dominic Fyfe, A&R director of Decca Classics, said: “Himari continues to captivate audiences worldwide with both fantasy and fireworks in her flawless playing. It is remarkable to see Himari breaking records with her very first album and one which captures a magical night making her European debut with the Berlin Philharmonic.”
PHOTO: Naruyasu Nabeshima
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