Reported by Taiwan News
2017/09/29
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese-Austrian pianist Rueibin Chen (陳瑞斌) is giving a piano recital at the National Concert Hall, for which he will not only perform prominent works from Schubert and Beethoven, but also premiere three pieces with the hope of bringing something fresh to the music-goers in Taiwan.
As the title of his concert, “Dreams & Passion” suggests, Chen was beaming with enthusiasm when talking about his career as a musician and the program he had prepared for Taiwanese fans.
Although Chen has spent many years touring around the world, he said he felt most stressed to perform in his hometown.
“Taiwanese fans know my performances very well, they can easily name a piece I have played at a particular concert a long time ago,” said Chen.
“Taiwanese fans know my performances very well, they can easily name a piece I have played at a particular concert a long time ago,” said Chen.
For the upcoming concert, Chen will play some of his favorite selections by Schubert and Beethoven, including the transcribed versions of Schubert’s Serenade and “Ave Maria” by Franz Liszt, and Beethoven’s "Sonata no. 23 in F minor 'Appassionata', Op. 57".
Apart from the well-known pieces that music fans may be familiar with, Chen has also prepared three works to premiere, including “Nocturne” by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, and “Punch and Judy” and “Shadow Play” by Russian composer Alexander Tcherepnin.
“As a musician, I feel obliged to share a diverse repertoire of great works with people in Taiwan, that may also be beneficial to the cultivation of the younger generations,” said Chen.
In terms of Tcherepnin, Chen said the two pieces he would be playing demonstrate the composer’s sources of inspiration in Asian culture, particularly because he was married to a Chinese pianist.
In addition, Tcherepnin was the teacher of Jiang Wen-Ye (江文也) and He Luting (賀綠汀), both of whom had great influence on the classical musicians of subsequent generations in their respective countries, Taiwan and China, said Chen.
Chen also said he was set to perform two of Scriabin’s pieces with only his left hand, for the composer had produced them with a single hand during the time when his right hand had been injured.
Chen started his piano study with his father at the age of five, and at 13, he left for Vienna on his own to pursue the dream of becoming a musician.
Over the years, Chen has received dozens of international music awards and has been invited to perform for a variety of major events across the globe, including the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.
The pianist is set to perform prominent works from Schubert and Beethoven, and premiere three pieces to bring a new experience to Taiwanese fans.
