Cellist Qin Liwei To Present Recital Themed Around 'C Major'

Shanghai-born cellist Qin Liwei will present a recital themed around "C Major" at the Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall, which serves as part of the ongoing China Shanghai International Arts Festival.

As one of the few recitals by a Chinese musician during this year's arts festival, Qin will perform four works: Bach's "Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major", Beethoven's "Cello Sonata No. 4 in C Major", Britten's "Cello Sonata in C Major", and Thomas Demenga's "EFEU" for solo cello.

These four pieces, spanning from the 17th to the 21st century, showcase the development and legacy of cello art over more than 400 years.

Bach's Cello Suites need little introduction. They fully exploit the rich expressiveness and tonal colors of the cello while also meeting the demands of performers seeking to develop more advanced techniques.

Qin describes Beethoven's five Cello Sonatas as a "dictionary" for performers, filled with diverse techniques, structures, and harmonies. In Beethoven's time, the cello had not long been established as a solo instrument, and it was his sonatas that endowed the instrument with character and granted it a significantly independent role.

"EFEU," composed for solo cello by contemporary cellist and composer Thomas Demenga, is a particularly distinctive piece in this concert. The title is derived from the initials of cello master Emanuel Feuermann, and is a homage from a contemporary musician to a legendary predecessor.

Qin's father was also a cellist, and Qin himself became the first Chinese artist to win the silver medal in cello at the International Tchaikovsky Competition.

"C major reminds us of sunshine, optimism, and energy. But in different periods, the texture conveyed by C major is entirely different," Qin explained regarding his concert theme.

"You can think of C major as a very good canvas, but what is painted on it depends on the artist of a particular period and what they aim to express," he explained. "The artistic mission of music is not only to present beauty but, more importantly, to reflect the diversity of human emotions."

Performance info

Date: October 24, 7:30pm

Tickets: 80-480 yuan

Venue: Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall 凯迪拉克上海音乐厅

Address: 523 Yan'an Rd E 延安东路523号