Boston, May 6, 2014, — Sean Chen captivated audiences and critics at the 2013 Cliburn Competition with concerts “that had the crowd not just standing, but cheering loudly” (KDHX, St. Louis), earning the crystal award and winning three years of concert tours in the United States—the first American to win a prize since 1997.
Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts will present pianist Sean Chen on Saturday, May 24, at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall. Ticket prices range from $15 to $50, and can be ordered online at: www.ChinesePerformingArts.net.
Markedly, in his Final Round performance of Rachmaninov’s Concerto No. 3 at the 2013 Cliburn Competition, “he summoned massive, orchestral sonorities, yet he could also play with enormous delicacy. It was a muscular, impassioned performance, and you felt like he is an artist with something to say” (Cincinnati Highlights of the 2013–14 season include return invitations to perform with the Indianapolis and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestras, performances at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and Jordan Hall in Boston, and recital and concerto appearances across the United States and Europe. Also part of his prize package, recording label harmonia mundi will release a live CD of his Competition performances in fall 2013, featuring works by Brahms, Beethoven, and Bartók.
Also as the 2013 Christel DeHaan Classical Fellow of the American Pianists Association, Mr. Chen has previously performed with several orchestras, including the Fort Worth Symphony, Indianapolis Chamber, Indianapolis Symphony, Juilliard, New West Symphony, and Suwon Philharmonic, working with such conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Gerard Schwartz, and Boris Brott. He has presented solo recitals in Albuquerque, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Taipei, among other cities.
An advocate of new music, he has worked with several composers to perform their works, including Michael Williams, Nicco Athens, Michael Gilbertson, and Reinaldo Moya. A recording featuring the solo works of Michael Williams on the Parma label is forthcoming.
Born in Florida, Mr. Chen grew up in Oak Park, California and has collected awards that include the 2010 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship, Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Award, and an NFAA ARTSweek award.
He now resides in New Haven, Connecticut, where he is pursuing his artist diploma at the Yale School of Music under Hung-Kuan Chen. He previously studied with Jerome Lowenthal and Matti Raekallio at The Juilliard School, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.
Program
J.S. Bach Adagio, BWV 968
Ricercar a 3 from Das Musikalisches Opfer
Debussy Suite bergamasque
Prelude, Menuet, Clair de lune, Passepied
Copland Piano Variations
Intermission
Scriabin Valse in A-flat Major, op. 38
Chopin Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat Major, op. 29
Impromptu No. 2 in F-sharp Major, op. 36
Impromptu No. 3 in G-flat Major, op. 51
Fantaisie-impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp Minor, op. 66
Ravel La Valse (arr. Sean Chen)
Tickets: (Children under 6 not admitted)
$50: VIP Reserved Seats, $30: open seating at non-VIP section , $15: student open seating at non-VIP section
100 free student tickets (age 14 and up) available at www.chineseperformingarts.net/specials/20140524/index.htm.
Rush tickets $10 for students and senior, available 6:30 pm on concert day at Jordan Hall Box Office only.
Order Online: www.ChinesePerformingArts.net (no fee)
For more info, please call 781-259-8195, or Email: [email protected].