At just 15 years old, Himari is releasing her debut album on Decca Classics—as the youngest female artist in the label’s history. The live recording with the Berlin Philharmonic marks an extraordinary milestone: no violinist younger than her has made their debut with this orchestra since Yehudi Menuhin in 1929. She is also the youngest female artist ever to be signed by Decca Classics.

With her first album, Himari presents a program that showcases her close connection to the violin and her great musical curiosity. Rather than choosing only well-known works, she has compiled a selection of music that is particularly close to her heart.

At the heart of the album is Henryk Wieniawski’s rarely recorded Violin Concerto No. 1. The program is complemented by Chopin nocturnes in arrangements by Heifetz and Milstein, as well as miniatures by Sibelius and Godowsky. The result is a multifaceted portrait of a young artist with a clear perspective of her own.

Pre-sales begin on Himari’s 15th birthday. The fact that her first EP has already reached 10 million streams in Japan alone underscores the special attention surrounding this debut.

Tracklisting

1. Wieniawski: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in F sharp minor, op. 14: i. Allegro moderato

2. Wieniawski: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in F sharp minor, op. 14: ii. Preghiera: Larghetto

3. Wieniawski: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in F sharp minor, op. 14: iii. Rondo. Allegro giocoso

4. Chopin: Nocturne in E flat major, Op.55 No. 2, transc. Jascha Heifetz

5. Godowsky: Triakontameron, No. 11: Alt Wien, transc. Jascha Heifetz

6. Sibelius: No. 1 Mazurka, from “5 Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 81”

7. Chopin: Nocturne in C#minor, Op. posth, transc. Nathan Milstein

8. Wieniawski: Fantasia on Themes from 'Faust', Op.20 i. Allegro moderato

9. Wieniawski: Fantasia on Themes from 'Faust', Op.20 ii. Andante ma non troppo

10. Wieniawski: Fantasia on Themes from 'Faust', Op.20 iii. Allegro agitato non troppo

11. Wieniawski: Fantasia on Themes from 'Faust', Op.20 iv. Andante non troppo

12. Wieniawski: Fantasia on Themes from 'Faust', Op.20 v. Tempo di Valse. Allegro non troppo

HIMARI

Debut