Piano Solo & Duo Recital: Romeo & Juliet and Butterfly Lovers

Piano Solo & Duo Recital: Romeo & Juliet and Butterfly Lovers
24 Sep 2018
7:30pm
Esplanade Recital Studio

Appassionata is a non-profit organisation that aims to promote classical chamber music. Our concert series provides a platform for both aspiring and accomplished musicians to showcase their talent and passion to people from all walks of life.

Pianist Chen Yue will be presenting an evening of solo and duo piano music at the Esplanade Recital Studio. She will be performing Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet suite, transcribed for solo piano by the composer. In the second half of the concert, Chen Yue will be joined by pianist Seet Wen Kai to present the highlight of the evening: the Singapore premiere of He Zhan Hao’s and Chen Gang’s Butterfly Lovers’ Symphonic Double-Piano Ensemble.

Born in Ningbo, China, Chen Yue started learning the piano at the age of 4 and performed a solo recital at the young age of 11. She is currently pursuing the Bachelor of Music (Honours) at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts/Royal College of Music, under the tutelage of Professor Yu Chun Yee. Chen Yue received numerous awards and prizes, including First Prize at the Steinway International Piano Competition, Huadong Area, China in 2017. A recipient of the ‘NAFA Scholarship’ and ‘Leong Yoon Pin Scholarship’, Chen Yue was the Grand-Prize Winner of the NAFA-Kris Foundation Fund Concerto Competition 2018 and the winner in the piano category of the Concerto Competition 2016 and 2017 performing Franck’s Symphonic Variations and Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1. She also won the Gold Award at the First Nanyang International Music Competition 2017. Chen Yue was the soloist for Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy with the NAFA Orchestra and Chorus during the celebration of NAFA’s 80th Anniversary at the Victoria Concert Hall. To acknowledge her effort and achievements, the Royal College of Music awarded Chen Yue with the Musical Excellence Award in 2018.

Seet Wen Kai completed his Bachelor of Music (Honours) at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts/Royal College of Music in 2016 and continued his studies under Yu Chun Yee after his graduation. He was given the privilege to study with Ruth Nye, who was a protégé of Claudio Arrau, during his overseas attachment with the Royal College of Music. He has performed in overseas festivals such as the Issac Albinez Festival in Spain where he was awarded a scholarship. Wen Kai was also featured as soloist in J.S. Bach’s Keyboard Concerto in D minor BWV 1052 with the ADDO Chamber Orchestra during the Piano Concerto Festival 2016. Wen Kai is highly sought after as a collaborative pianist for competitions and currently teaches at NAFA School of Young Talents. He was also appointed the conductor of their String Ensemble.

*With deep appreciation to Mr Lin Lu Zai for providing his artwork.

 

Programme

  1. Debussy

    1. Selections from Preludes
    2. Book1, L. 117, No. 11, La danse de Puck
    3. Book2, L. 123, No. 12, Feux d’artifice
       
  2. Prokofiev
    1. Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op.75
       
  3. Chen Yue, piano
     
  4. Intermission
     
  5. Mozart
    1. Adagio and Fugue in C minor for two pianos, K546 and K426
       
  6. He Zhanhao and Chen Gang
    1. The Butterfly Lovers for Two Pianos, original transcription by Chen Gang
    2. Chen Yue, Seet Wen Kai, pianos