World-Renowned Pianist Rueibin Chen to Perform Intimate Concert Benefitting Foothill Family Service

World-Renowned Pianist Rueibin Chen to Perform 

Intimate Concert Benefitting Foothill Family Service

Report by Pasadena Now , USA

May 19, 2015

Foothill Family Service will host an intimate concert by internationally-acclaimed pianist Rueibin Chen at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, May 30. “A Night with Rueibin Chen” will be held at Pasadena City College’s Westerbeck Recital Hall, A reception with the artist will follow the concert. Proceeds from the event will benefit Foothill Family and their mission to build brighter futures for children and families in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, Glendale, and Burbank.

“We are delighted that Mr. Chen will perform in Pasadena in support of Foothill Family Service,” said the Foothill Family Service Chief Executive Officer. “To have an artist of his caliber helping to raise funds for, and awareness of, our organization and the work that we do in the community is truly an honor.”

A Chinese-Austrian born in Taiwan, Rueibin Chen’s distinguished career has earned him more than a dozen awards in various international piano competitions, a reputation for technical brilliance, and the ability to combine intense energy with a refined sense of touch. Mr. Chen has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras around the world and was invited by officials of the 2010 World Expo to be the exclusive opening ceremony performer of the famous ”Yellow River Concerto” in Shanghai. Among his many international accolades, he was honored by the County Supervisor of Greater Los Angeles County for promoting diplomacy between the United States and Taiwan through music with his solo recital at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

“I am so pleased to have the opportunity to perform a private concert in support of an organization as community driven as Foothill Family Service,” said Mr. Chen. “Their emphasis on empowering individuals and families to overcome life’s challenges is remarkable and inspirational.”

Rueibin's new biography will be released at Eslite Bookstores very soon.

Rueibin's new biography will be released at Eslite Bookstores very soon. This is my second biography and it contains stories of my life and performance tours of recent years. I'm sure it's a book you'll enjoy reading. The book releasing and signing party will be held on May 19th (Tuesday) during my short stay in Taiwan. Please see the following for details. I sincerely look forward to seeing you there!

Pianist Rueibin Chen captivates his audience , Report by CCTV News

Pianist Rueibin Chen captivates his audience

Report by CCTV News  , in Beijing , China

April 29, 2015

Taiwan-born Austrian pianist Rueibin Chen captivated his audience with a live rendition of Sergei Rachmaninoff's ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini’ at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing last week.

‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini’ is perhaps the Russian composer's most renowned piece, and Chen is among the world's best at this repertoire. In 1984, he became the youngest winner of the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition in Italy.

Rachmaninoff's charm and passion was replicated magnificently on the night through Chen's display of virtuoso skills, as each note and chord was thoroughly absorbed by his audience.

"For me, 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini' the most representative work of the composer, and people are familiar with it, especially the 18th variation. Since it inspired the music score of the movie 'Somewhere in Time'. The piece has so many different levels you can savor -- passion, as well as serenity," Chen said.

A Chinese-Austrian born in Taiwan, Chen has a reputation for brilliant technique and intense artistic expression, as well as having a certain expertise on the works of Russian composers.

He is the only Asian disciple of the legendary Russian pianist Lazar Berman, whose teacher was best friends with Rachmaninoff.

Chen said: "The encore was from Tchaikovsky, also a Russian composer, and that was to echo with Rachmaninoff's work. So the whole performance is one hundred percent Russian. It's a nod to the Russian music maestros, and my mentor, Lazar Berman."

Chen's interpretation of Chinese piano concertos is equally as impressive as that of Western classics.

He was invited as a piano soloist to the 2010 World Expo in China, performing the Yellow River Concerto.

Rueibin Chen performs 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini' in Beijing

News by CNA , 
Taipei , May 3 , 2015

Chinese Austrian pianist Rueibin Chen played Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" with the China National Symphony Orchestra in Beijing in late April, captivating the audience with his impeccable skill and classical Russian flavor.

Chen, who was born to an elementary school music teacher's family in Tainan in 1967 and studied in Austria when he was 13, is the only Asian student of renowned Russian pianist Lazar Berman, whose teacher Alecander Goldenweiser (1875-1961) was a classmate and friend of Rachmaninoff (1873-1943).

Chen's virtuoso performance of the rhapsody magnificently conveyed charm and passion to his audience at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on April 24.

For an encore, Chen played his own condensed version of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 to the passionate applause of the audience.

The melody of the rhapsody, especially the 18th variation, was made popular by the US movie "Somewhere in Time" in 1980.

In 1984, Chen became the youngest winner of the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition in Italy.

Chen said the rhapsody was Rachmaninoff's "most representative work" and "the piece has so many different levels you can savor -- passion, as well as serenity," according to a report on CNTV (China Network Television).

Chen said he gained a deeper understanding and grasp of the work's emotional subtlety as well as the meaning of a pure Russian performance style, from his mentor Berman and studying Rachmaninoff's life with his late teacher.

Chen said his choice of the encore was intended to echo Rachmaninoff's work, so "the whole performance is one hundred percent Russian," which is "a nod to the Russian music maestros and my mentor, Lazar Berman," the CNTV report said.

Ms. Jane Seymour, lead actress in the movie "Somewhere in Time," was in the audience when Chen played the rhapsody in Los Angeles.

Review ( 樂評 ) Chinese-Austrian Pianist Rueibin Chen Wows Crowd with a Rachmaninoff Performance

YIBADA ENTERTAINMENT  
May 4, 2015

Rueibin Chen, renowned Chinese-Austrian pianist, performed a Rachmaninoff piece, "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini," in Beijing on April 24, showcasing his world-class skills flared with classical Russian touch.

The pianist played with the China National Symphony Orchestra at the National Center for the Performing Arts. With his passionate performance, Chen was able to captivate the hearts of his audience.

Chen is the only Asian student of the legendary Russian pianist Lazar Berman. Berman was a student of Alexander Goldenweiser, a classmate and friend of Rachmaninoff.

Chen hails from Tainan and was born to a family of an elementary school music instructor. He first went to Austria to study when he was only 13 years old.

In 1984, the pianist won the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition in Italy, becoming the youngest person to receive the tilt.

Chen's piece during the April 24 show was one of the most famous works by Rachmaninoff. The 1980 film "Somewhere in Time" popularized the 18th variation of the rhapsody's melody.

One of the movie's stars, Jane Seymour, was part of the crowd who watched Chen's performance back in Los Angeles.

According to a China Network Television report, Chen stated that "the piece has so many different levels you can savor--passion, as well as serenity," adding that the rhapsody was Rachmaninoff's "most representative work."
The Chinese-Austrian talent played his own version of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 for an encore. He said that he performed the encore to mirror Rachmaninoff's work, making the whole of his performance "100% Russian."

Chen further shared that his performance was a tribute to his mentor, Lazar Berman, and to other Russian music instructors.

Photo : Award-winning Rueibin Chen gives a virtuoso performance of a Rachmaninoff rhapsody.

Concert " Rueibin Chen & Fiends " , May 4, 2015

 " Rueibin Chen & Fiends " 
Concert  in Hsinchu , Taiwan  ,    May 4, 2015