Pianist Meng-Chieh Liu Celebrates 25 Years at Curtis with 3-Part Recital Series Beginning December 9

PHILADELPHIA—November 26, 2018—In a newly-announced recital series celebrating 25 years of teaching, Curtis piano faculty member Meng-Chieh Liu performs alongside his current and former students, as well as faculty colleagues, in A Silver Touch. The first program in the series takes place Sunday, December 9 at 3 p.m. in Gould Rehearsal Hall at the Curtis Institute of Music. The second and third take place in Gould Rehearsal Hall on February 25 at 6:30 p.m. and March 31 at 4 p.m., respectively.

In the 25 years since his graduation from Curtis, pianist Meng-Chieh Liu has earned a place among the most respected musicians of his generation. Throughout that time he has continuously been a vital presence at Curtis as a performer, teacher, and mentor. In the first of three diverse programs showcasing Liu’s talent and pedagogy, he is joined by students, alumni, and faculty in music for multiple pianos, including a rarely heard version of Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring for four pianos and percussion instruments.

February 25’s recital features Paul Hindemith’s complete brass sonatas, performed by Mr. Liu and Curtis faculty members who are principals with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony. March 31 features a program of chamber concertos with Curtis musicians, including the school’s new string quartet in residence, the Vera Quartet.

Subscriptions to all three recitals for $60 or single tickets for $25 are available from the Patron Services Office at (215) 893-7902 or Curtis.edu/Performances.

Past and future meet through the Curtis Presents series, which features a diverse collection of artists—alumni, faculty, students, and friends—whose musical foundations are rooted in the Curtis community. This series of intimate and innovative recitals offers a unique experience that transcends generations and genres, with exceptional artistry and one-of-a-kind programs.

Meng-Chieh Liu first made headlines in 1993 as a 21-year-old student, when he substituted for André Watts at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia with three hours’ notice. His acclaimed performance was followed by a number of widely praised appearances, including a recital at the Kennedy Center.

A recipient of the 2002 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Mr. Liu has performed with orchestras under conductors Christoph Eschenbach, Gustavo Dudamel, and Alan Gilbert, among others. His concerts have been broadcast around the world, and Taiwanese National Television has aired a documentary on his life. A dedicated chamber musician, he has collaborated with musicians in North America, Europe, and Asia, in addition to working with artists in other disciplines, including Mikhail Baryshnikov and his White Oak Dance Project. He is the artistic director of Chicago Chamber Musicians, which he joined in 2009.

Mr. Liu received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Jorge Bolet, Eleanor Sokoloff, and Claude Frank. He received first prizes in the Stravinsky, Asia Pacific Piano, and Mieczyslaw Munz competitions.

Mr. Liu has been a member of the Curtis Institute of Music faculty since 1993 and also serves on the faculties of Roosevelt University and the New England Conservatory.     

The Curtis Institute of Music educates and trains exceptionally gifted young musicians to engage a local and global community through the highest level of artistry. One of the most selective schools in the United States, Curtis accepts four percent of applicants each year on average. A tuition-free policy ensures that talent and artistic promise are the only considerations for admission. With a small student body of about 175, Curtis ensures that each young musician receives an education of unparalleled quality, distinguished by personalized attention from a celebrated faculty and a “learn by doing” philosophy. Curtis students hone their craft through than 200 orchestra, opera, and solo and chamber music offerings each year in Philadelphia and around the world.

 


 

CURTIS PRESENTS: A Silver Touch – Part One

Sunday, December 9 at 3 p.m.

Gould Rehearsal Hall, Lenfest Hall, Curtis Institute of Music, 1616 Locust Street, Philadelphia

LUTOSLAWSKI

Variations on a Theme by Paganini

Meng-Chieh Liu (’93), piano 
Yue Chu (’13), piano

SCHUMANN

Andante and Variations, Op. 46

Meng-Chieh Liu, piano
Aimi Kobayashi, piano
Alexander Lane, horn 
Joshua Halpern, cello
Branson Yeast (’11), cello

HOLST

“Jupiter” from The Planets, arr. Gustav Holst

Meng-Chieh Liu, piano 
Yijia Wang (’17), piano

BACH

Concerto for 4 Harpsichords in A minor, BMV 1065

Meng-Chieh Liu, piano 
Jiayi Sun (’12), piano  
Chelsea Wang (’17), piano
Chenyang Xu (’08), piano
Curtis Chamber Ensemble

STRAVINSKY

The Rite Of Spring, arr. Andre de Groote

Meng-Chieh Liu, piano 
Tianxu An, piano 
George Fu (’16), piano 
Zitong Wang, piano
Don Liuzzi, percussion 
Yifei Fu (’13), percussion

 

3-recital subscriptions for $60 and single tickets for $25, sold by the Curtis Patron Services Office, Curtis.edu/Performances, or (215) 893-7902.

 

The Curtis Presents season is sponsored by Blank Rome LLP.

 

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