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Thursday Setember 7, 2017
A FREQUENT pianist at Shenzhen’s top performance venues, Chen Sa will return Sept. 15 for a solo recital program of Beethoven’s sonatas and Schubert’s impromptus at Nanshan Cultural and Sports Center.
The program includes Beethoven’s popular “Moonlight Sonata” and “Pas-toral Sonata,” as well as his “Fantasia in G Minor, Op. 77” and “32 Variations in C Minor, woO 80,” and Schubert’s “Impromptus, Op. 142.” For Chen, pair-ing Beethoven with Schubert in a single recital is a “perfect combination.”
“Beethoven was a miracle, unprec-edented. He was a giant who not only overcame his hearing loss but also broke the boundaries of genre. I think after he lost hearing, he could still talk with many things with his heart, even talking with God. His great masterpieces have given us a look into the future of music,” she told Shenzhen Daily in an email interview.
“Schubert was an admirer of Beethoven. He was very nervous when meeting Beethoven for the fi rst time. He was exposed to Beethoven’s music from an early age, and several of his works contain thematic resemblance to simi-lar works of Beethoven. But Schubert was different from Beethoven in that he didn’t pursue life philosophies in his compositions. Sometimes, he was humorous and like a little fl ower on the roadside. His pieces are down-to-earth with singing melodies,” she added.
Described as “one of the brightest performers of her generation,” Chen began her study of music at the Sichuan
Chen Sa returns with Beethoven, Schubert tunes
Conservatory of Music and then at the Shenzhen School of Arts under teacher Dan Zhaoyi in both places. Following winning fourth place at the Leeds Inter-national Piano Competition in 1996, she was subsequently offered a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, Britain. She also studied at
the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media in Germany. Chen won fourth place in the 2000 International Freder-ick Chopin Piano Competition and the Crystal Award in the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
Chen is a Steinway Artist and has been nominated for the esteemed Tokyo series
“The 100 Greatest Pianists” and for the cover artist of the launching issue of Gramophone magazine Chinese edi-tion. In 2010, the Polish Government awarded the Chopin Art Passport to her in appreciation for her unique interpre-tations of Chopin’s music.
Success at an early age hasn’t spoiled Chen, who lives a low-profi le life and is never seen in any advertisement cam-paigns. Her devotion to classical music is paramount and she said her life in Europe in the past 20 years has given her more inspiration in understanding her passion.
“One’s growth takes time, especially in the artistic and cultural achievements. I’m always trying to get closer to an ideal rendition, combining technical skills into musicality. In the past, I was more familiar with Chopin’s compositions but after living in Britain and Germany, I’ve got deeper understanding in German and Austrian pieces,” said Chen.
Chen’s piano performance is acclaimed as “sparklingly clear in touch” and “controlled fl amboyance” by some press. Her renditions are perfectly attuned to composers’ stretches but also reveal her freedom of thought. She said she has a free individual character and even if she is not a pianist, she would do a creative job. “I don’t like routine offi ce work, but actually, no matter what you do, as long as you do it with creativity, you can still achieve brilliant results.”
Time: 8 p.m., Sept. 15Tickets: 100-580 yuanVenue: Nanshan Cultural and Sports Center, 2106 Nanshan Boulevard, Nanshan District (南山区南山大道2106号南山文体中心)Metro: Line 1, Taoyuan Station (桃园站), Exit B
MORE than 120 exquisite Yixing clay teapots created by Chinese handicrafts master Bao Zhiqiang and his top proteges are on display at Guan Shanyue Art Museum until this Sunday.
Yixing teapots have deep roots in Chinese history. The craft gets its name from the region where this specifi c type of earthen clay is found, Yixing in East China’s Jiangsu Prov-ince. The craft as it is known today dates back to the 15th century, but archaeological excavations reveal that the fi rst attempts at pottery in the region occurred as early as the Song Dynasty (960-1279), when potters near Yixing were using local clay to make utensils that may have functioned as teapots.
Yixing clay teapots survive to pres-ent day because the art has been handed down through generations.
Clay teapot exhibition serves elegance
They are known for being traditional, handcrafted household ware and for their fi ne quality. Historically, Yixing teapots were popular with the scholarly class. In addition to teapots, other vessels like jars, vases, fi gurines and decorations are also produced in the Yixing style.
As a representative successor of the
art of Yixing clay pottery, master Bao has been engaging in the craft for more than 50 years. His creations are renowned for combining immaculate design, calligra-phy, carving, painting and ornamentation in each piece.
Bao stresses the dominance of Yixing culture in the design of his pottery, which
results in a distinguished style that is easy to recognize. His personal style also shines through, marked by the incorporation of Yixing cultural ele-gance and strong literati infl uences. At the Shenzhen exhibition, visitors can admire not only typical round-shaped teapots but also his chic cubic and polyangular teapots. Many of Bao’s creations have been collected by the National Museum of China and the Palace Museum.
This exhibition, co-organized by industrial associations from Jiangsu Province and Yixing City, also carefully selected clay teapots made by Bao’s 30 students, which stand witness to the succession and development of tradi-tional Yixing clay teapots.
Dates: Until Sept. 10Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.Venue: Guan Shanyue Art Museum, 6026 Hongli Road, Futian District (福田区红荔路6026号关山月美术馆)Metro: Line 3 or 4, Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit B
An array of teapots on display. Photos by Cao Zhen
Chen Sa
