AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
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Silicon Valley -- After winning FIRST PRIZE in the Bay State Piano Competition for young students in Boston for five consecutive years, at the ages from 7 to 12 years old; a second FIRST PRIZE piano competion for two consecutive years at the STEINWAY COMPETITION in Boston; joining his older brother in a performance at a recital series in Utica College, giving his first piano recital at the First Presbyterian Church in Utica New York when he was 10 years old, and winning more prizes in piano competitions which included: another FIRST PRIZE in the Boston Symphony Orchestra youth contest competition, a SECOND PRIZE at the Hilton Head International piano competition, a THIRD Prize in the Minessota Piano-e-competion and in April 1918 another First Prize at the Harvard Music Association Achivement Awards, ANDREW LI will be presenting his keyboard mastery at the STEINWAY SOCIETY the Bay Area, HOME CONCERT HALL that will be presented (online) from January 22 to January 25, 2021. In a telephone interview from Boston, Cultural World Bilingual interviewed the young artist with the purpose to introduce him to Classical Music lovers in the West Coast. C.W.B. How old were you when you started playing piano? C.W.B. To what do you attribute your winning the First Prize for five consecutive years in piano competitions, since you were seven years old? C.W.B. Did you, at any time, consider to become a Concert Pianist? C.W.B. Did you eventually fall in love with music? C.W.B. Who is your favorite composer, and why? C.W.B. What is music for you?
C.W.B. As a performer, what is the composer whose music really touches you, and why? C.W.B. Reading your program, I see that in your concert you have Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin and Stravinsky; could you tell us something about the works you will play? "As for the Brahms work, it is all based in this very famous melody Caprice in the Key of A minor, which consists on a theme and 11 variations, which I think that everybody had encounter before., And in this piece, what I find so interesting and magical about it, is that it is based like a piece of poetry, in technical music capacity, but it is not all brash and loud chords. This piece can also be light and delicate and singing and warm. So, I feel that in Brahms's variations, he actually put his signature, because it has so much depth in its harmonies. I think that this musical and harmonic sight comes true when the piece is heard, but only when themusician performs this piece properly." "In doing the 'Polonaise Fantaisie in A Flat minor', I want the audience to understand that this is a piece with a "double personality" which forces the interpreter to conveytwo sides: a more majestic, expressive and flexible side, and a more bouncy and danceable one. Both of these characteristics have to be conveyed to the audience (by the interpreter) to show them how Chopin conveys them, in just one piece. (That, technical, is two pieces)." "And the three movements of Stravinsky 'Pétroushka' are sort of a piece which is a transcription of the ballet by the same name. And it is based on the character of a puppet that is brought to live by a magician. The first two movements are based on the magician following the puppet (which he believes is a real woman) and the third movements, takes the zoom out. So, the difficult on this piece, is that one has to interpret all these different emotions in the piano piece: the loudness of the fights, the other dancers in the market place, and even the orchestra and the character of Petroushka and the other puppets. " It is very difficult. C.W.B. Before we finish our interview, do you have anything to say to your virtual audience? TICKETS FOR THE CONCERT ARE ONLY $20.00 Per Household. To Order tickets for the concert go to: Steinwaysociety.com For questions about the concert, contact their box office (408) 300-5635. Please remember that because of the pandemic, The Steinway Society The Bay Area is also relying in on your generosity and accepting contribution. |