Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 - Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2 Haochen Zhang, Lahti Symphony Orchestra & Dima Slobodeniouk

• Sergei Prokofiev (1891 - 1953): Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16:
• 1 Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16: I. Andantino - Allegretto 11:15
• 2 Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16: II. Scherzo. Vivace 02:26
• 3 Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16: III. Intermezzo. Allegro moderato 06:29
• 4 Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16: IV. Finale. Allegro tempestoso 11:16
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893): Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23, TH 55:
• 5 Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23, TH 55: I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso 20:06
• 6 Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23, TH 55: II. Andantino simplice 06:50
• 7 Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23, TH 55: III. Allegro con fuoco 06:43
• Total Runtime 01:05:05

Info zu Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 - Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2

Winner of the 2009 Van Cliburn competition, Haochen Zhang is no stranger to a challenge. On this début concerto disc he proves this once more, boldly jumping in at the deep end as he takes on Sergei Prokofievs Piano Concerto No. 2. The demands posed by Prokofievs concerto are famous, starting with a huge cadenza already in the first movement. This may explain why the concerto was for a long time relatively unknown and, unlike the First and Third Piano Concertos, has only recently taken its rightful place in the repertory. The work was premièred by the composer himself in 1913, shocking the audience with its modernistic sounds and jagged rhythms. But even though Prokofiev was happy to nurture a reputation for badboy modernism, there is also a rich seam of Russian tradition which underlie his music from the beginning to the end of his career. It is therefore fitting that Haochen Zhang has chosen to complete the disc with one of the best-loved concertos from that tradition: Tchaikovskys Piano Concerto in B flat minor. In both works, Zhang is supported by the Lahti Symphony Orchestra under the baton of its principal conductor, Dima Slobodeniouk.

“Such a combination of enchanting, sensitive lyricism and hypnotizing forcefulness is a phenomenon encountered very rarely.” (Ury Eppstein, The Jerusalem Post)

Haochen Zhang, piano
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Dima Slobodeniouk, conductor

Haochen Zhang
Since his gold medal win at the Thirteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009, Haochen Zhang has captivated audiences in the United States, Europe, and Asia with a unique combination of deep musical sensitivity, fearless imagination, and spectacular virtuosity. In 2017, Haochen received the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, which recognizes talented musicians with the potential for a major career in music.

Haochen has already appeared with many of the world’s leading festivals and orchestras including the BBC Proms with Yu Long and the China Philharmonic; the Munich Philharmonic with the late Lorin Maazel in a sold-out tour in Munich and China; the Easter Festival in Moscow by special invitation of Maestro Valery Gergiev; the Sydney Symphony and David Robertson in a China tour; and the NDR Hamburg and Thomas Hengelbrock in a tour of Tokyo, Beijing, and Shanghai.

Highlights of the 2018-19 season include his debut with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, an Asian tour with Philadelphia Orchestra, and performances with the National Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, San Angelo Symphony, Guangzhou Symphony, China Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony, and Spokane Symphony, in addition to recitals in Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Lucerne, and Brussels, among others.

In recent seasons Haochen recorded a recital CD, released by BIS Records in February 2017, which includes works by Schumann, Brahms, Janacek, and Liszt. He gave extensive recital and concerto tours in Asia with performances in China, Hong Kong, and Japan. In October 2017, Haochen gave a concerto performance at Carnegie Hall with the NCPA Orchestra, which was followed by his recital debut at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall.

Haochen Zhang has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, London Symphony, London Philharmonic, WDR Symphony Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio, San Francisco Symphony, LA Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, Japan Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, Mariinsky Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic, Taiwan Philharmonic, and Hong Kong Philharmonic orchestras. In recital, he has performed at Spivey Hall, La Jolla Music Society, Celebrity Series of Boston, CU Artist Series, Cliburn Concerts, Krannert Center, Wolf Trap Discovery Series, Lied Center of Kansas and UVM Lane Series, among others.

Haochen is also an avid chamber musician, collaborating with colleagues such as the Shanghai Quartet, Tokyo Quartet, Brentano Quartet, and active, young soloists such as violinist Benjamin Beilman and cellist Aurélien Pascal. He is frequently invited by chamber music festivals in the United States including the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and La Jolla Summerfest.

Haochen’s performances at the Cliburn Competition were released to critical acclaim by Harmonia Mundi in 2009. He is featured in Peter Rosen’s award-winning documentary chronicling the 2009 Cliburn Competition, A Surprise in Texas.

Haochen is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where he studied under Gary Graffman. He has also been studying periodically with Andreas Haefliger in Vienna. He was previously trained at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Shenzhen Arts School, where he was admitted in 2001 at the age of 11 to study with Professor Dan Zhaoyi.

Booklet für Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 - Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2