Saturday, October 5, 2024
On September thirtieth, the thirteenth Gulangyu Piano Artwork Week kicked off in grand fashion on the picturesque island of Gulangyu, Xiamen. Famend for its deep-rooted musical tradition, the island as soon as once more captivated the eye of world piano aficionados and music lovers, reaffirming its popularity because the “Island of Pianos” and the “Island of Music.”
Underneath a starry sky, the opening evening of the pageant was graced by the mesmerizing efficiency of Dang Thai Son, the esteemed Vietnamese-Canadian pianist and Gulangyu resident artist. Sometimes called “Asia’s First Chopin,” Son carried out solo works similar to Adagio, BWV 564 and Photos, Guide I. He then joined forces along with his pupil, Wang Zitong, and the Fuzhou Strait Symphony Orchestra for collaborative masterpieces, together with Concerto for Two Pianos, Okay. 365 and Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21. The opening live performance set an distinctive tone for the week-long pageant, as every word flowed with Gulangyu’s distinctive rhythm, creating an unforgettable musical journey that acquired extensive acclaim from the viewers.
Including to the pageant’s status, French pianist Michel Dalberto, a fellow Gulangyu resident artist and nationwide honoree, held an unique masterclass, sharing invaluable insights into the artwork of piano. His masterclass provided a singular alternative for the general public to attach with a world music legend, additional cementing Gulangyu’s standing as a bridge between cultures by music.
This yr’s Gulangyu Piano Artwork Week boasts a stellar lineup of world-class musicians, together with Sofia Gulyak, the primary girl to win the celebrated Leeds Worldwide Piano Competitors, Russian artist Andrei Pisarev, who heads the piano division at Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Lin Shuobin, a famend organ teacher from the Chinese language College of Hong Kong, and Caroline Robinson, organist and choral conductor at Atlanta’s Cathedral of St. Philip. These artists delivered performances that resonated with worldwide requirements, providing audiences a wealthy musical expertise. Complementing these performances, seven educational actions invited music professionals and lovers to discover the deeper sides of the artwork type by partaking discussions and workshops.
Past the principle live performance collection, quite a lot of musical occasions, together with courtyard performances, seaside live shows, and piano lessons, enriched the cultural material of the island, permitting locals and guests alike to immerse themselves on the planet of music. Open-air pianos, interactive artwork installations, starlit markets, and artwork movie screenings turned Gulangyu right into a dwelling canvas of musical exploration, encouraging spontaneous interplay with artwork and fostering a stronger connection to music.
A very particular second occurred on October 1st, when each piano on the island performed the long-lasting piece My Motherland and Me in celebration of the seventy fifth anniversary of the founding of the Folks’s Republic of China. This island-wide symphony created a transferring tribute, filling the air with patriotic melodies and reflecting the unity of the event.
As one of the prestigious piano artwork festivals in Asia, Gulangyu Piano Artwork Week continues to shine as a beacon of cultural trade, solidifying Gulangyu’s place as a world hub of music. The pageant’s skill to mix the grandeur of classical performances with the intimacy of on a regular basis island life displays its deep connection to Gulangyu’s identification. From street-side performances to household live shows, music breathes life into this vibrant island, attracting guests from all corners of the globe and contributing to Xiamen’s popularity as a cultural and creative heart.
With the theme Romantic World Heritage, Benefit from the Piano Island: OUR ISLAND, OUR PIANO, this yr’s occasion featured over 50 thrilling performances and actions spanning eight main themes, operating from September thirtieth to October sixth. Organized by the Xiamen Municipal Folks’s Authorities, Fujian Provincial Division of Tradition and Tourism, and different distinguished our bodies, Gulangyu Piano Artwork Week continues to construct upon its musical heritage whereas selling the preservation of this World Cultural Heritage web site.
