Grzegorz Niemczuk and Chen Xi – FESTIVAL CLOSING CONCERT

The programme of the closing concert of the 2nd  Edition of „Polish Circles of Art. In China Festival” by Grzegorz Niemczuk and Chen Xi:

Part I. Wang Jianzhong: Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon, The Liuyang River. Fryderyk Chopin: Nocturne in E flat major Op. 9 no. 2, Fryderyk Chopin –Etude in C major Op. 10 no. 1, Fryderyk Chopin – Etude in C minor Op. 10 no. 12, Fryderyk Chopin – Polonaise in A major Op. 40 no. 1, Wojciech Kilar – Polonaise from the movie “Pan Tadeusz – the Last Foray in Lithuania”, Fryderyk Chopin – Scherzo in B flat minor Op. 31.

Part II. Li Zili – Song of Harvest Fisherman, Cesar Franck – Sonata For Violin and Piano In A Major: 1. Allegretto Ben Moderato, 2. Allegro, 3. Recitativo-Fantasia, 4. Allegretto Poco Mosso.

The Piano: Zhang Ziyun.

GRZEGORZ NIEMCZUK

Grzegorz Niemczuk belongs to the most active Polish classical pianists of the young generation. He has already enjoyed a successful career having performed worldwide over the past 12 years. He has traveled the world and given more than 400 recitals and concerts in 31 different countries on all 6 continents. Admired for his sensitivity, poetry, beautiful sound and passionate virtuosity he became a favorite with audiences and critics alike especially in Europe, Asia and South America. His interpretations of Chopin’s music were placed in 2017 by the National Polish Radio together with those by Martha Argerich, Maurizio Pollini and Adam Harasiewicz.

Niemczuk’s vast repertoire spans more than 200 solo pieces and 30 piano concerti ranging from the Baroque to the contemporary era. His particular specialty is the Romantic period.

Grzegorz Niemczuk is the prizewinner of more than 15 piano competitions, notably a winner of the 2013 International Carnegie Hall Concerto Debut Competition in New York City and the 40th National Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw (2010).

Mr. Niemczuk graduated with the highest distinction from K. Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice in the class of renowned Professor Józef Stompel. He continued his piano studies in New York City, Mannes College (International Keyboard Institute and Festival) where his teachers were such artists. Between 2009 and 2012 he stayed under the artistic care of teacher and mentor Jeffrey Swann (New York Steinhardt University).

Grzegorz Niemczuk has received many honorable awards in his home country including from Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture and Art. He is regularly invited to attend prestigious music festivals.

Website: www.niemczuk.com

Facebook Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/g.niemczuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mmaelduin

CHEN XI

Chen Xi is China’s internationally acclaimed violinist, who has been described by one of the world’s most influential music magazine The Strad as ‘a very bright musician with strong individuality’ and chosen by CCTV as one of the China’s top ten violinists.

In 1999, he started studying violin under world-renowned violin master Professor Lin Yaoji.

In 2000, Chen Xi won the 8th International Wieniawski Violin Competition. Two years later in 2002, barely 17 years old then, Chen Xi won the top prize at the 12th International Tchaikovsky Violin Competition in Moscow, and became the youngest top prizewinner in the history of that prestigious competition.

In 2003 he was admitted to the famous Philadelphia Curtis Conservatory of Music as a pupil of a famous performer and conductor, Joseph Silverstein. In 2008, he was admitted to Yale University Conservatory of Music where he obtained a master’s degree, also receiving The Dean’s highest Honorary Award.

In recent years, Chen Xi has been travelling all over the world, not only giving solo performances but also performing with famous orchestras: China Philharmonic Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra, Stanford University Symphony Orchestra, Russian National Symphony Orchestra and many others.

Chen Xi also held solo concerts in international famous concert halls such as New York Carnegie Hall of Music, known for hosting Academy Awards (Oscars) DolbyTheatre, Boston Concert Hall, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, Moscow Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Paris Louvre Auditorium and Beijing National Grand Theater.

In 2014, Chen Xi formally returned to his alma mater Central Conservatory of Music, teaching in the Department of Orchestra. He has won many awards, including Splendor Awards of Chinese Ministry of Culture and Central Conservatory of Music Outstanding Teacher Award.