Yundi / Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra CHOPIN Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

                                                 PIANO CONCERTOS NOS. 1 & 2

Yundi Li CHOPIN

There is no question as to Yundi Li's technique. When this recording was made in 2001, Li was a mere 19 years old, but from the evidence on this disc, he was already a formidable technician. The extravagant technical difficulties of the repertoire -- Chopin's Sonata No. 3, several of the etudes, and the Andante spianato et grande polonaise -- are dispatched with skill and panache from the most delicate arabesques to the thunderous double octaves in contrary motion. Although there have been many other pianists who have played these works as well or better from a technical point of view, Li's performances stand up well in their company. But for all of his maturity as a technician, Li's interpretations are still those of a youth. The deeper meaning of the Sonata No. 3 -- its awe-inspiring harmonic structure and its formalization of fear and courage in the opening and closing movements -- are wholly beyond Li. The transcendent elegance of the Andante spianato and the radiant joy of the grande polonaise are merely graceful and cheerful in Li's interpretations. And his three Nocturnes are not so much emotional, seductive, and beautiful as they are sentimental, playful, and pretty. With his amazing technique, Li may develop into an amazing pianist. But one hopes that he grows as an interpreter as well. (James Leonard)

Yundi CHOPIN Ballades - Berceuse - Mazurkas

Following his 2015 release of Frédéric Chopin's Préludes on Deutsche Grammophon, Yundi Li continues his survey of the Polish master's works with the Four Ballades, the Berceuse in D flat major, and the Four Mazurkas, Op. 17. Yundi's album is part of his ongoing Chopin Project, which has the appearance of being his life's work, so closely is he associated with this music. In keeping with Chopin's preferences, Yundi plays with calm introspection and flexibility in his phrasing, which gives the music a spontaneity that avoids formulaic Romantic clichés. Most importantly, Yundi's use of rubato and his dynamic adjustments are appropriate to the music's flow and not employed for sentimentality or showmanship. Instead, Yundi gives the lyrical Ballades room to breathe, and the tugging of the tempo is always at the service of expression, rather than effect. To sample Yundi's exquisite treatment of line and pacing, the poetic opening of the Ballade in F major, Op. 38 (track two) is a good place to start. But for a livelier example, the Mazurka No. 1 in B flat major shows the pianist in fine form. (Blair Sanderson)

Yundi Li / Berliner Philharmoniker / Seiji Ozawa PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2 - RAVEL Piano Concerto in G major

Yundi Li's premiere recording with the Berlin Philharmonic under Seiji Ozawa demonstrates his steadfast, consistent approach to the piano. Unfortunately for him -- and for listeners -- that means only one of the two concertos heard here is performed as it should be. The Prokofiev Second Piano Concerto, premiered by the composer when he was only 22 years of age, is ideally suited to 24-year-old Li. It is a work filled with youthful energy, bombast, and technical bravura clearly designed to impress. Li knocks this one out of the park. His more-than-ample technique allows him to perform this incredibly demanding work with apparent ease. The extended passages for solo piano are executed with spine-tingling amounts of power and technical precision. Anyone in the market for a riveting performance of only the Prokofiev need look no farther. But then there's still the matter of the Ravel G major Concerto, a work which, unlike Prokofiev, does not rely on ostentatious displays of technical prowess. Li fails to pull out some introspection and thoughtful interpretation of this much more intimate work. The second movement is disturbingly vertical and angular -- characteristics that worked quite well in Prokofiev but that leave Ravel sounding mechanical. Like many of his earlier recordings, Li again demonstrates himself to be an absolute master of technique, but also as a young artist still searching for deeper musical understanding. (Mike D. Brownell)

Yundi CHOPIN Preludes

"This year is actually the 15th anniversary to celebrate when I won the Chopin Competition in Warsaw," says Chinese pianist Yundi Li, "so I started this Chopin project as a tribute to Chopin."

At the age of 18, Yundi became the youngest performer ever to win the International Chopin Competition. He celebrates his 15th anniversary of earning that award by launching a series of recordings honoring Chopin, starting with the complete Chopin Preludes.

When performing these preludes Yundi says his attention is focused on the melody and on creating a beautiful musical phrase.

"For Chopin's music, especially for the preludes, the most important is the character of the tone color, so that is the most difficult," Yundi says. "You need to play with a singing tone, but a high-quality tone. So it's not about fast or slow or loud or something. It's really about detail and about the sensitivity of tone color.

"So, that's about attack on the keyboard. When your fingers feel the weight of the key. Sometimes you need the finger to play fast. Sometimes you don't use the finger, but you use your arm or your body. It's how deep you press the key or the keyboard. But that's the most difficult part, because you need to try for hours and hours to find out the tone quality — ah, this tone is what you wanted."

Yundi Li / Berliner Philharmonker / Daniel Harding BEETHOVEN Emperor - SCHUMANN Fantasy

Young Chinese pianist Li Yundi announced in London on Saturday that his new album would be released on Feb. 25, the day of his first concert of a European tour.

The new album, Emperor I Fantasy, includes Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 (Emperor) and Schumann's Fantasie in C. It is his second recording with conductor Daniel Harding and the Berlin Philharmonic.

Li will play these works as well as traditional Chinese pieces on a European tour that will take in 25 cities from February to April, including St Petersburg, Warsaw and Prague. The first concert will be hold at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Feb. 25.

"The Emperor Concerto is one of my favorite compositions, which not only expresses Beethoven's uniqueness and confidence but is also filled with romanticism," said the pianist.

Known as the "prince of piano" in China, Li said the core of his new album is to tell people that "everybody has an emperor inside themselves. To become one, people have to face challenges, make progress and break through barriers. One day, they will become their own emperor."

He added, "Playing the Beethoven concerto is a breakthrough for me. I hope I can achieve more and perfect my musical skills to become my own emperor. I hope I can bring more beautiful music to people in the future."

The young pianist rose to prominence after he took first place at the 14th International Chopin Competition in 2000 at the age of 18, making him both the youngest pianist and the first from China to win. (Xinhua and Staff Reporter / 2014-02-11)