China's "other" world-beating young pianist returned to Beijing
in triumph last week and treated fans and media with sweet sounds
of Chopin and Liszt.
Li Yundi showed off his exquisite technique and brilliant
phrasing, which delighted New York audiences at Carnegie Hall
earlier this year. The soulful sounds of Li's deft touches and
illuminating keystrokes resonated off the 600-year-old stonewalls
of Beijing's Imperial Granary, in which Li held his album
launch.
The inspiring preview reminded the Beijing gathering just how
far the 24-year-old man had progressed, in a career often compared
to his classical rival Lang Lang.
Li returns with a DG record "Yundi Li C Chopin/Liszt Piano
Concerto No 1" released by Universal Music this month after five
year's studies with Arie Vardi at the Hanover Conservatory of
Music.
"Both the two concertos are among my favourite repertoires and I
have expected to record them for a long time," said Li. "I played
with my heart rather than the fingers and talked much with the
recorders so as to record a high-quality album. It's hard to make a
record achieve the same effect as the live concert, but I
challenged to do it."
Li won first prize at the International Chopin Competition in
Warsaw in 2000, becoming the first pianist in 15 years to be deemed
worthy of the top prize. DG signed him six months later.
His playing of Chopin and Liszt is acclaimed throughout the
world. Li describes the music of Chopin as "poetry and power."
It's easier for the press and classic lovers to compare Li with
the other Chinese pianist Lang Lang, who at the same age of Li,
burst on the international scene a year apart. Both profess respect
for each other's artistry.
As Lang Lang toured the world garnering tons of publicity thanks
to his flamboyant manner and playful demeanor, Li positioned
himself as the more contemplative of the two and chose further
study at the Hanover Conservatory of Music in 2001.
On December 3, Li will give a recital at Beijing's Century
Theatre to announce his return. Then next year, he will tour the
United States and Asia with Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of
Seiji Ozawa and Lorin Mazzel's New York Philharmonic.
(China Daily November 13, 2006)