Historical
Piano Concerts Series
About
the Musicians
Yuan Sheng
|
Internationally recognized pianist Yuan Sheng
has performed in more than twenty countries as a recitalist, chamber
musician and concerto soloist. The New York Times wrote, “Mr. Sheng’s
ear for balance is unfailing…the attraction was entirely visceral.” New
York Concert Review says, “Mr. Sheng… is an artist of the highest
quality” Renowned music author David Dubal states: “… Just listen
to him, you will be charmed and touched!” The International Piano
Magazine called Yuan Sheng “The nation’s (China’s) premier interpreter
of Bach.”
Mr. Sheng has performed in Carnegie Hall in New
York, Ford Performing Arts Center in Toronto, Seoul National Center for
the Performing Arts in South Korea, as well as National Center for the
Performing Arts, Forbidden City Concert Hall, Beijing Concert Hall in
Beijing, and Shanghai Concert Hall in Shanghai, China. He has been
heard and seen on US stations WQXR, WGBH, and NPR; and on National
Radio, Spain, National Radio, France, National Television, Poland,
China Central TV, and Beijing Music Radio.
Currently on
the Piano faculty of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, Mr.
Sheng has given lectures and master classes in the U. S., Canada,
China, Croatia, Germany, South Korea and the Philippines.
Born
to a family of musicians in Beijing, Yuan Sheng began his music studies
with his mother at age five, continuing them later at the Central
Conservatory with Professors Qifang Li, Huili Li, and Guangren
Zhou. From 1991 to 1997 Yuan Sheng was a scholarship student of
Solomon Mikowsky at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City,
where he completed his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. His
interest in the music of Bach inspired him to study intensively with
Rosalyn Tureck.
Mr. Sheng’s performances and research on the
music of Bach have attracted international attention in recent years.
The New York Times said that “… the A major and A minor Preludes and
Fugues from Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, were models of
clarity, balance and proportion. That is not to say that they were
straightforward or unmediated: Mr. Sheng made the A minor Prelude into
a fiery drama, with the equally energetic but stunningly voiced Fugue
as an otherworldly rejoinder.” During the 2009-10 season Mr. Sheng gave
a 5-recital series of All-Bach Programs as well as a 5-lecture series
on Bach at the Beijing Forbidden City Concert Hall.
We are privileged to welcome Yuan Sheng to yet another appearance here in Ashburnham.