SZ pianist's recital enchants audience

On June 20, Shenzhen pianist Guannan Alice Liu, who was educated in the United States, held a solo piano recital at the Shenzhen Concert Hall's Steinway Garden, offering entrancing melodies from Debussy, Mozart, Rachmaninoff and Oakley for the audience who immersed themselves in a dreamlike summer night.

Themed "The Sound of Dreams," the concert featured Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun" (arranged by V. Gryaznov), Mozart's "Piano Sonata No. 3 in B-flat Major, K. 281," Rachmaninoff's "Etudes-tableaux, Op. 39, No. 5" and "Variations on the Theme of Corelli, Op. 42" and Oakley's "Toccata."

"I chose Debussy's enchanting piece as the opening, followed by a graceful Mozart sonata that evokes the dreamlike and beautiful feelings that arise when we embark on our pursuit of dreams. In the second half, I performed Rachmaninoff's pieces, which was like portraying the hardships encountered during the journey of pursuing dreams. Nothing comes without struggle and there are always explorations. Lastly, I played a piece by American composer Oakley, which, to me, represents the joy and celebration that comes after overcoming difficulties," said Liu.

"Meanwhile, each piece showcases the distinctive characteristics of different countries, which I find fascinating to perform in a recital. However, presenting these unique qualities and tones on a single instrument is a considerable challenge," she added.

Guannan Alice Liu performs during her recital. Photo by courtesy of the organizer

Liu graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Piano Performance from Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music and earned a Master's Degree from the Mannes School of Music in the United States. During high school, she won the gold medal in the amateur youth group of the "Dongting Huanglong" Piano Competition in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, and successfully held her first solo concert in Shenzhen. Over the past decade of studying abroad, she has performed at prestigious stages such as Carnegie Hall and Steinway Hall in New York City, together with world-class maestros.

"For this concert, Liu selected five pieces of various styles and performed wonderfully for the audience. Instead of playing large and virtuosic works, she takes her time to explore various colors and diverse elements, using her inner world to comprehend them. This is what makes her performance stand out from others," said Prof. Zhu Wenbo, an aesthetics expert.

Art curator Xu Lijie also expressed her admiration for Liu's ability to evoke strong emotional responses through her music. "Performers use their bodies, minds and souls, along with their profound understanding of music, to convey the essence of each piece while forming and presenting their unique artistic style,” said Xu.

“Debussy's work is romantic and beautiful, Mozart's work brings the audience back to a joyful and carefree childhood. In Rachmaninoff's music, one can feel the immense pressure, but even in dire circumstances, there is a glimmer of hope that gives people the courage to stand up again. Therefore, Rachmaninoff's works are not easy to perform. They require performers to have a rich social life and deep understanding, as well as full emotional tension. In Liu's concert, you can hear her rich emotions and be impressed," she added.

The concert, part of the Charity Art Practice Program for Disability, received guidance and support from the Shenzhen Disabled Persons' Federation, the Shenzhen Vitalization Symphony Development Foundation and the Shenzhen Charity Association • Assistance to the Disabled Special Fund. The shared goal was to provide more opportunities for the disabled to appreciate the beauty of music and art.

"I have always been passionate about public welfare since I was young, and I think music can empower people. The disabled have to go through many unimaginable challenges. I hope they can gain some strength and spread love while listening to classical music," said Liu.