“We are delighted to host the Chinese pianist, Fang Zhang,” said HSU Music professor Daniela Mineva. “His superb musicality and mature artistry are combined with impeccable technique.”
Born in Shenyang, China, Mr. Zhang began piano lessons at the age of four and won his first piano competition at the age of seven. With graduate degrees from the Eastman School of Music and appointed to the faculty of the Peoples University of China, he has performed widely on three continents. He was awarded the 2006 Rachmaninoff Society Special Prize at the Viardo International Piano Competition, among other honors. In 2008 he co-founded the Beijing Chamber Ensemble, and will tour U.S. universities with this group through 2012.
At HSU he will play Beethoven’s Rondo in C Major and “Funérailles,” the sevemtj of ten compositions in the Poetic and Religious Harmonies cycle by Franz Liszt, followed by “Sheng dan jing mo chou,” a piano work inspired by traditional Beijing Opera.
He ends the first half of his concert with two George Gershwin songs, as transcribed for piano by Pittsburgh-born Earl Wild: “Embraceable You” and I Got Rhythm,” both from the musical “Girl Crazy.”
After the intermission, Mr. Zhang plays the Piano Sonata in B Minor by Franz Lizst, which Daniela Mineva describes as “very demanding.” It is considered Lizst’s greatest work for solo piano.
In addition to his concert on Saturday, Mr. Zhang will conduct a Master Class on Friday, April 8 from noon until 1:30 PM in the Fulkerson Recital Hall. It is free and open to the public.
Pianist Fang Zhang performs on Saturday April 9 at 8 pm in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets: $8/$3 students and seniors from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. A Guest Artist concert produced by HSU Department of Music. http://HSUMusic.blogspot.com