On May 2nd, the piano student recital of The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao was staged at Steinway Hall Beijing, featuring performances by seven of our piano majors. The Director of our Keyboard Faculty and Piano Professor Xu Fei, provided the audience with lucid, succinct analyses of the stories behind each piece. These narratives offered invaluable context, enhancing the audience's comprehension and enjoyment of the classical music presented.
This recital was a testament to diversity and richness, featuring an expansive array of themes, a wealth of content, and a medley of styles. It was a performance that bridged grade levels and transcended epochs, all while maintaining a harmonious stylistic continuity. The students breathed life into classic piano compositions from the likes of Mozart, Gulda, Liszt, and Ravel. The resulting dialogue of black and white piano keys unfurled into a symphony of sight and sound, offering the audience an unforgettable sensory feast.
The recital opened with a captivating performance by our third-grade student, Liu Zewen, who masterfully performed Mozart's Variations on Ah vous dirai-je maman. His adept technique and seamless melody guided the audience on a journey through a cosmos of shifting stars. His precise emotive interpretation was a spectacle in and of itself. Yang Botian, a fourth grader, brought the unique cultural essence of Argentina to the audience through his rendition of Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2 by Alberto Ginastera. Zhou Zihao, a fifth grader, delighted the audience with two contrasting pieces, one compact and exquisite, the other resonating with a distinct jazz flavor. Though still young, these elementary students captivated the audience with their advanced performance skills and evocative musical expressiveness.
Mozart-Variations on Ah vous dirai-je maman
Instructed by: Shi He
Performed by: Liu Zewen, Grade 3
Alberto Ginastera: Danzas Argentinas, op. 2
No. 1: Danza del viejo boyero
No. 2: Danza de la moza donosa
No. 3: Danza del gaucho matrero
Instructed by: Xu Fei
Performed by: Yang Botian, Grade 4
1.Scriabin Etude Op.42 No.3
2.Gulda "Play Piano Play"
Instructed by: Xu Fei
Performed by: Zhou Zihao, Grade 5
The performances grew progressively more enchanting. Seventh-grader Liu Wensen presented the audience with Debussy's Feux d'artifice, a piece that weaved in the sounds of fireworks, creating an ethereal atmosphere. When eighth-grader Lei Yunzilin began playing Chinese Dream, the audience was transported through the majestic landscapes of China, as depicted by the piano music. Zhang Wenting, another eighth grader, performed a vibrant and perfectly structured piece by Liszt. The recital culminated in a lively and spirited performance by ninth-grader Wang Zikang, who played a piece by Mendelssohn. This piece, which displayed perpetual motion on the piano, unfurled a melody that left the audience in contemplative reverie. The entire concert was marked by the students' precise control and their ability to blend flawlessly with the tones of the Steinway piano, making every piece an impeccable masterpiece.
Feux d'artifice by Debussy
Performed by: Liu Wensen, Grade 7
Instructed by: Patrick
Chinese Dream by Zhang Zhao
Performed by: Lei Junzilin, Grade 8
Instructed by: Xu Fei
Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 by Liszt
Performed by: Zhang Wenting, Grade 8
Instructed by: Xu Fei
Albeniz- Triana
Mendelssohn-Etude Op.104b no.2
Performed by: Wang Zikang, Grade 9
Instructed by: Xu Fei
As Mr. Mark Stringer, Deputy Head of The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao, stated in his address, the school is steadfast in its implementation of the holistic education philosophy. This recital in Beijing served not only as a demonstration of our piano students' solid foundational skills and their relentless pursuit of musical refinement, but also as a testament to the superior teaching capabilities of our piano faculty. Most importantly, it was a manifestation of the achievements of our holistic educational approach. Looking forward, we anticipate many more of our exceptional students taking to various stages, showcasing their talents and embodying the allure of the “musicians of the future”.