After a sold-out debut last year, the YouTube sensation and Steinway Artist brings his Chopin Orbit world tour to the Esplanade Concert Hall on October 25, blending Chopin, Saint-Saëns, Stravinsky, and his own original compositions.
Japanese pianist and composer Hayato Sumino will perform at Singapore’s Esplanade Concert Hall on October 25, 2025, as part of his global Chopin Orbit tour. The evening will juxtapose iconic works by Frédéric Chopin, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Igor Stravinsky with Sumino’s own pieces, improvisations, and recompositions. Tickets, priced between $48 and $158, are available via Sistic.
A Concert Built on Dialogue
The Chopin Orbit program, drawn from Sumino’s Sony Classical album of the same name, treats classical music as an evolving conversation. Audiences will hear Chopin’s dramatic Piano Sonata No. 2 and the notoriously demanding “Winter Wind” Étude performed alongside Saint-Saëns’ eerie Danse Macabre and the fiery energy of Stravinsky’s The Firebird suite. Sumino’s own compositions—including Lydian Harp, White Keys, and Imaginary Polonaise—weave throughout the setlist, bridging centuries of musical tradition.
“This concert is not just a recital; it’s an exploration of how different composers speak to each other across time,” Sumino has said in promotional materials. The program aims to showcase a spectrum of moods, from dark allure to explosive intensity.
From YouTube Stardom to Concert Halls
Sumino’s road to the stage is anything but conventional. Under the alias “Cateen,” his YouTube channel has amassed 1.56 million subscribers and more than 200 million views across platforms. His viral videos range from a seven-level complexity arrangement of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to full orchestral collaborations. Yet his classical credentials are equally formidable: a Forbes Japan 30 Under 30 honoree and Steinway Artist, Sumino has performed with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, including a concert under legendary composer Joe Hisaishi.
This dual identity—internet star and serious concert pianist—positions Sumino as a bridge between classical music’s traditional gatekeepers and a new generation of digital-native audiences.
Practical Information and Broader Significance
- Date: October 25, 2025
- Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore
- Tickets: $48–$158 via Sistic
- Tour: Chopin Orbit world tour, named after his Sony Classical album
The concert arrives amid a vibrant season for Singapore’s performing arts scene. The same month, the National Museum’s Singapore History Gallery reopens after its first major revamp, and a new 1,000-seat theatre is slated for Tanglin by 2030. Sumino’s return underscores a growing appetite for innovative classical programming in the city-state.
For fans of classical music and newcomers alike, Sumino’s performance offers a rare glimpse into how tradition and experimentation can coexist—one key at a time.