Beijing hosts the acclaimed Piano aux Jacobins festival this
weekend. It is the third year the annual festival of recitals has
come to China from Toulouse, France, where recitals are staged in
the ancient cloister of the Couvent des Jacobins.
The Forbidden City concert hall will today stage the youthful
yet classic player, David Fray, and on Sunday, the romantic Dana
Ciocarlie (pictured).
Fray was appointed "Young Soloist of the Year" by the Commission
des Radios Publiques Francophones in 2004. He has played at many
prestigious venues in Europe, America and Asia, collaborating with
conductors Christoph Eschenbach, Kurt Masur and Riccardo Muti.
Specializing in classical repertoire, and especially Bach, Fray
will play Bach's French Suite No.1 in D minor and Partita No.4 in D
major, and Beethoven's Sonata No.7 and No. 10.
Dana Ciocarlie's style is of the Romanian school of piano. She
has a broad repertoire, ranging from Bach to today's composers,
some of who have dedicated works to her. Tomorrow, Ciocarlie
performs Mozart, Schumann, Schubert, Debussy and two contemporary
pieces by Karol Beffa and Georges Enesco.
Both pianists will play in Beijing for the first time.
"I am happy to play in Beijing, and I have played in Hong Kong
before. I know that today's China is an important country in
classic music. You have thousands of kids who play piano, violin
and other instruments," says Ciocarlie.
Piano aux Jacobins artistic director Catherine d'Argoubet said
the festival was honored to hold its Chinese edition in the cities
of Beijing and Shanghai.
"Every year we try to bring pianists of different personalities.
We know China has many high-brow classic music fans and hope they
would enjoy our music," she says.
Time: 7:30 pm, June 9,10
Place: The Forbidden City Concert Hall. Inside Zhongshan Park,
to the northwest of Tian'anmen Square
Tel: 6559-8285, 6558-8306
(China Daily June 9, 2007)
