A two-day series on Lieder
Today I had the privilege of attending a concert curated and performed by Changyong Liao, alongside his long-time collaborator, German pianist Hartmut Höll. The duo masterfully arranged a series of Lieder (aka, art songs) titled Three Wishes of the Rose: 16 Chinese Lieders. Witnessing these original composers interpret these songs was a profound experience, filled with a rich tapestry of emotions and beauty.
The encore ’the seek of Prunus mume on a snowey day’. Watch here for the up-stairs version, and here for the front-seat version.
Btw, about the two artists:
Hartmut Höll
Hartmut Höll’s playing is characterized by a sense of sound, sensitivity, and the ability to think “behind” the notes, to create atmosphere, and to let the listener experience sensations directly in the timbres. For decades he has been one of the most sought-after piano partners. He knows the value of chamber music collaboration and is wise enough to cultivate long-term partnerships.
Together with the president of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Hartmut Höll edited Chinese art songs created by Chinese composers since 1920 under European influence but with Chinese idiom and setting poems from a thousand-year tradition. This edition is published by Breitkopf & Härtel.
Liao Changyong
Changyong has won top prizes in major singing contests both at home and abroad, especially between 1996 and 1997 when he won three first prizes in the 41st International Singing Competition of Toulouse, Domingo World Opera Competition and Queen Sonja International Music Competition. His remarkable performance won applaud from world music circles and he started his cooperation with opera great Placido Domingo since then.
He has been touring around the world to perform with opera great Placido Domingo, José Carreras and Ruth Ann Swenson successfully. His perfect singing won him a high status in the international opera circle.
Liao Changyong has acted leading roles in numerous opera classics, including The Barber of Seville, Rigoletto, Don Carlo, Carmen, Faust, Camille, Trovatore and A Masked Ball. And he has won medals, awards and honors awarded by China, Shanghai, USA, Belgium, etc. He has been devoted to the creation and performing of Chinese original operas and art songs in recent years. He joined the 2016 G20 Summit as an outstanding talent of China.
He is now a deputy of the National People’s Congress, a member of the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress, vice chairman of Chinese Musician Association, vice chairman of the Shanghai Musician Association, a member of the leading group of Shanghai Literary Federation and vice chairman of Chengdu Literary Federation.