Ji Liu | Pianist Composer Researcher

Ji Liu Captivates Audience at the Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall with a Stunning Recital

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 21:58:42 -0700

July 5th, 2023 – On July 1st, the Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall came alive with the mesmerizing piano recital by the acclaimed virtuoso Ji Liu, who delighted the audience with his extraordinary talent, delivering a captivating performance that will be remembered for years to come.

The recital showcased a diverse program, demonstrating Ji Liu's versatility and mastery of the piano and his in-depth research in creative programming practices in Schubert and Contemporary works.

The evening began with the hauntingly beautiful Sonata in A Minor, D.784, a piece renowned for its emotional depth and intricate musicality. Ji Liu's interpretation breathed new life into the composition, mesmerizing the audience with his impeccable technique and sensitive musicality. Continuing to showcase his extraordinary talent, Ji Liu presented an original composition, Etude For Solo Piano (2018), written by himself, showcasing his prowess as both a performer and a composer. His composition displayed a unique blend of classical influences with contemporary elements, captivating the audience with its dynamic and expressive character. This Etude was followed by Schubert's late piano work Drei Klavierstücke, D.946.

The pinnacle of the evening was reached with Frederic Rzewski's iconic composition, The People United Will Never Be Defeated Variations. This monumental work, consisting of 36 variations on a Chilean protest song, explores a vast range of emotions and technical challenges. Ji Liu's interpretation was nothing short of awe-inspiring, as he effortlessly navigated the complex variations, delivering a performance that left the audience spellbound.

Ji Liu's performance at the Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall was a testament to his exceptional...Read More

New Radio Programme Launched: The Other Side of Musician's Life

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 20:15:02 -0700

As part of Liu Ji's Inaugural Music Ambassador programme for Shanghai FM94.7, the national classical music radio station operated by Shanghai Media Group (SMG), Ji Liu has curated and hosted his first radio series, 'The Other Side of Musician's Life', on Shanghai FM94.7, presenting lesser-known masterpieces of classical music and beyond, while discussing interpretative ideas for these works and the composers' biographical contexts. The 12-episode series will be broadcast on-air and on digital radio platforms throughout the year.

The first two episodes of Rachmaninov and Brahms are now available online.

Review: The Ricther Scale

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 20:07:54 -0700

The Richter Scale is a new piano composition by German composer Boris Bergmann. The hour-long work was created for Steinway’s Spirio | r, respected as the world’s finest high resolution player piano and receives a stupendous performance on this premiere CD by the Steinway Artist Ji Liu. The Richter Scale is a programmatic composition in 11 movements inspired by Charles F. Richter’s scale for measuring the magnitude of earthquakes.

Available on CD at international record stores and online shops and digitally via all major DSPs including Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, etc.

Tracklist:

1️⃣Prelude
2️⃣A Planet’s Pulse
3️⃣Richter the Poet
4️⃣Seismograph
5️⃣Recurring Dream
6️⃣Expecting the Big One
7️⃣Dance of the Things
8️⃣How to dance out an Earthquake
9️⃣Reversing the Mississippi
🔟Voyager Golden Record
1️⃣1️⃣Epilogue – To the Beloved Ones

Facts & Arts review The Richter Scale and the new Spirio | r piano

Mon, 08 May 2023 23:37:27 -0700

Michael Johnson of Facts & Arts reviews The Richter Scale is his piece The sonic ‘earthquake’ of the new Spirio piano.

Read the full review

Piano News reviews The Richter Scale

Mon, 08 May 2023 23:33:45 -0700

The German magazine Piano News has reviewed Ji Liu's new album, The Richter Scale, an hour-long work by German Composer Boris Bergmann, released internationally by Heresy Records.

Conference Paper Presentation at The City University of New York

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 09:57:51 -0700

April 12, 2023 - Dr Ji Liu presented his paper Performing long works beyond traditional concert paradigms in the digital age at the International Conference Women at the international conference Global Digital Music Studies presented by Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale (RILM) and The Barry S. Brook Center for Music Research and Documentation

About the conference:

Abstract:

Performing long works beyond traditional concert paradigms in the digital age

Ji Liu

Virtual live performances and live performances combining digital forms have become a new trend in the creative industry through
the pandemic. However, research has not yet targeted how these changes impacted and reshaped music performance and its related contextual studies in these new norms....Read More

Conference Paper Presentation at the University of California

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 09:47:06 -0700

March 18th, 2023 - Dr Ji Liu presented his paper The First-Generation Chinese Womem Pianists and Their Remarkable Careers in the 20^th Century at the International Conference Women at the Piano 1848–1970, at the University of California, Irvine.

About the conference:

Abstract:

The First-Generation Chinese Womem Pianists and Their Remarkable Careers in the 20th Century

Ji Liu

The first keyboard arrived in China in 1601 by an Italian Jesuit missionary. However, it was the first half of the 20th century when the piano was developed as a cultural transformation in China. Since then, the emergence of Chinese pianists in international concert scenes has become recognised. There are many discussions and attention on various aspects of new-generation Chinese pianists in the 21st century; however, the studies at international levels on how piano playing was initiated, shaped and developed as a cultural and educational phenomenon in China remain insufficient.

To answer this question, noticeably, a cohort of first-generation Chinese women pianists whose unique works have contributed significantly to the...Read More

Celebrated Pianist and Composer Ji Liu Appointed as Inaugural Music Ambassador for Shanghai FM947

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 21:14:33 -0800

Shanghai, March. 8th, 2023 – Shanghai FM947, the esteemed media platform for classical music, proudly announces the appointment of world-renowned pianist, composer, and scholar Dr Ji Liu as its inaugural Music Ambassador. This exciting collaboration marks a significant milestone for both Shanghai FM947 and Dr Ji Liu as they join forces to promote classical music and music education to a broader audience in China and beyond.

In a groundbreaking move, Shanghai FM947 Weekly Radio Concert unveils its annual concert program with a theme of "Classical Youth", featuring four series: "Master Class", "Powerful Music", "Emerging Voices", and "Gifted Youth". This initiative will consist of nearly 30 concerts throughout the year.

As the Music Ambassador, Dr Ji Liu will utilize his boundless creativity to bring the enchanting world of classical music to the masses through live performances and digital platforms. His presence will be felt throughout the year as he collaborates with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra to deliver awe-inspiring renditions of Rachmaninoff's piano concertos, commemorating 150 Years of Rachmaninoff.

In addition to these performances, Dr Ji Liu will present an exquisite series of recitals featuring Schubert's unfinished piano sonatas, the Wanderer Fantasy Op.15, and compositions by contemporary composers. This unique musical dialogue between genres and fields promises to mesmerize audiences and ignite a deep appreciation for the versatility and beauty of classical music and its reflected diversified cultural contexts.

As part of his commitment to fostering a greater understanding of the classical repertoire, Dr Ji Liu will host a radio programme titled "The Other Side of Musicians' Life." Through this engaging platform, he will unveil lesser-known masterpieces of classical music while providing biographical insights into the composers' lives. This endeavour aims to deepen the connection between the audience and the rich...Read More

New Album: The Richter Scale

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 21:26:21 -0800

Friday 3rd February 2023 - Heresy Records will release The Richter Scale, a new piano composition by German composer Boris Bergmann. The hour-long work was created for Steinway’s Spirio | r, respected as the world’s finest high resolution player piano and receives a stupendous performance on this premiere CD by the young Chinese Steinway Artist Ji Liu. The Richter Scale is a programmatic composition in 11 movements inspired by Charles F. Richter’s scale for measuring the magnitude of earthquakes.

The Richter Scale premiered in concert at Steinway Hall London in November in 2019 and was recorded at Steinway Shanghai in September 2021. Over the past year the young London-based Chinese pianist Ji Liu as performed the piece at major concert venues throughout China.

Throughout his life Charles Richter devoted himself to the reconciliation of science and art. Several movements of Bergmann’s cunning composition are written for four hands. Rather than using two pianists, Bergmann expertly employs the Steinway Spirio | r replacing the second pianist. Thus, the pianist programs one part of the 4-handed composition on the Spirio’s computer and then plays together with – and at times against – himself, resulting in a compelling colloquy between man and machine. The Steinway Spirio has the remarkable capability of reaching beyond the technical realm of any human pianist and these sections of the work add a thrilling dimension to this remarkable amazing composition for piano.

Dr Ji Liu Chosen as the Distinguished Forrest Performance and Leadership Research Fellow

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 21:15:00 -0800

Pianist, Composer and Scholar Dr Ji Liu has been bestowed with the prestigious honour of the Forrest Performance and Leadership Research Fellow by the esteemed Forrest Research Foundation. This remarkable recognition is a testament to Dr Liu's exceptional artistic vision and extraordinary research and leadership.

As the Forrest Performance and Leadership Research Fellow, Dr Liu will join the ranks of an elite group of researchers and outstanding artists who have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to the performing arts and their commitment to fostering artistic leadership and innovation. The Forrest Foundation, renowned for its dedication to supporting talented individuals across various disciplines, has once again proven its commitment to nurturing the future of research excellence in Western Australia and Beyond.

Dr Liu's professional activities consist of constant and fruitful movements between performing, composing and researching. In addition, Dr Liu's commitment to musical education and his efforts to inspire a larger group of people through artistic research and music-making aligns perfectly with the mission of the Forrest Foundation. As the Forrest Performance and Leadership Research Fellow, Dr Liu will have a platform to further his vision of fostering artistic development and promoting the transformative power of music.

Expressing his gratitude for the recognition, Dr Liu said, "I am deeply honoured to be selected as the Forrest Performance and Leadership Research Fellow. This prestigious fellowship is a significant milestone in my career, and I am excited about the possibilities it brings. I am grateful to the Forrest Foundation for their support and commitment to the arts, and I look forward to contributing to the global cultural community and beyond through this fellowship."

About the Forrest Foundation:

The Forrest Foundation is a renowned organization committed to supporting exceptional...Read More