Piano Transcriptions and Schumann Piano Quartet: Siqian Li & Friends

Set in the exquisite surroundings of the charming Victorian-era Leighton House Museum, an enchanting evening of music awaits you on Friday, 22nd November 2024 @ 19:00 GMT.

Concert pianist Siqian Li will be performing dazzling solo piano transcriptions (a preview of some tracks from her debut album), and Schumann's piano quartet with guest musicians from the award-winning Kyan Quartet, following the composer's composition opus 1.

This concert is made possible through the generous patronage of The Hon. Mrs Susan Baring, OBE.

W. A. Mozart/A. Volodos: Turkish March

L. V. Beethoven/F. Liszt: An die ferne Geliebte, S.469

F. V. Vecsey/G. Cziffra: La valse triste

M. Ravel/A. Korsantia: La valse

Interval

R. Schumann: Variations on the name "Abegg", Op.1

R. Schumann: Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op.47

Featured as a rising star in BBC Music Magazine, Chinese pianist brings elegance, dynamism and exceptional musical quality to her performances. Commended for her ‘virtuosity and talent’ (Annecy Classic Festival), her ‘huge emotional range and effortless pianistic control’ (Paul Lewis CBE), and her ‘graceful and touching’ (Emanuel Ax) approach, Siqian has appeared in concerts and recitals at international concert halls including the Bridgewater Hall, Beijing Forbidden City Concert Hall, Tokyo Ginza Yamaha Concert Hall, Cairo Arabic Music Institute and Boston Jordan Hall, and in more unusual settings, with recitals at London’s 1901 Arts Club, the ever-charming Fidelio Cafe and Luke Jerram’s breathtaking GAIA The Earth Exhibition.

Consistently active on the festival circuit, Siqian has given recitals at prestigious festivals such as Annecy Music Festival, Festival d’Auvers sur-Oise, Dinard Festival International de Musique, Palermo Classica Festival, Lancaster Music Festival, and Shanghai International Music Festival.

The level of depth Siqian brings to her musical exploration and shining pianism has led to her winning numerous awards. She was also a semi-finalist of the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2018. Appeared on BBC Radio 3 - In Tune and BBC Radio London, Siqian was also featured in newspapers and magazines such as The Chinese Weekly, Shenzhen Evening News, Shoutout LA, and Classical Music UK.

Instagram @siqianpianist

YouTube @siqianpianist

Exciting news! Following this concert, Siqian is set to record her debut album this December, collaborating with the Grammy Award-winning legendary recording engineer and producer Tony Faulkner. All proceeds from ticket sales will support the album's production. Any of your additional support is greatly appreciated and can help amplify this artistic endeavour. Here's how you can contribute:

1. Ticket Purchase Plus: When buying your ticket, you'll have the opportunity to include an optional contribution of any amount.

2. Concert Day Contributions: Contributions of any size will be gratefully accepted at the concert.

For a special collaboration, Siqian will be joined by the inspiring musicians from the award-winning Kyan Quartet in the concert's second half!

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Filipino-American violinist Sydney Grace Mariano enjoys a varied career in chamber music and orchestral playing. Graduated with a Masters Degree from the Royal Academy of Music (DipRAM), she has performed and recorded at prestigious venues such as the Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Concertgebouw, Elbphilharmonie, and Warner Bros Studios. Sydney is part of the London Sinfonietta Academy and a longstanding member of the Chineke! Orchestra. Additionally, she has performed at the BBC Proms and the Brit Awards, and recorded Max Richter's most recent album, Vivaldi's Four Seasons - Recomposed.

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Chinese violist Wanshu Qiu, a passionate chamber musician, is a regular member of various ensembles. Her ensemble coordination is marked by sensitivity and flawless confidence. Wanshu has led the viola section under world-class conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Mark Elder, and Semyon Bychkov, and has appeared in Nash Ensemble, Aurora Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Manchester Collective, the Hallé and BBC Philharmonic. Wanshu has been invited to the Lucerne Festival, Encuentro de Música Santander, Prussia Cove OCM, Edinburgh International Festival, and Bowdoin Festival as a Viola Fellow. As a soloist, she played with Manson Ensemble, Carme Ensemble and London Contemporary Soloists.

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Simon Guémy, a Paris-born cellist, began his musical journey at age seven with Marcel Bardon. He later studied under Dominique de Williencourt and Juliette Salmona at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Paris. During his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London under the tutelage of Robert Cohen, Simon won the Piatti Competition and graduated with First-Class Honours in 2023. Simon has collaborated with world-renowned conductors like Ludovic Morlot, Semyon Bychkov, and Marin Alsop, and has performed at prestigious festivals and venues such as the Aldeburgh and Borromeo Music Festival, the Royal Festival Hall and Wigmore Hall.

Host or Publisher Siqian Li