Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev Tianxu An

• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893): Nocturne in F Major Op. 10 No. 1:
• 1 Tchaikovsky: Nocturne in F Major Op. 10 No. 1 04:51
• The Seasons Op. 37a:
• 2 Tchaikovsky: The Seasons Op. 37a: X. October 05:17
• 3 Tchaikovsky: The Seasons Op. 37a: XI. November 03:12
• Eighteen Pieces, Op. 72:
• 4 Tchaikovsky: Eighteen Pieces, Op. 72: X. Scherzo-fantaisie 07:31
• 5 Tchaikovsky: Eighteen Pieces, Op. 72: V. Meditation 05:29
• Sergei Prokofiev (1891 - 1953): Four Etudes Op. 2:
• 6 Prokofiev: Four Etudes Op. 2: I. Allegro in D Minor 02:30
• 7 Prokofiev: Four Etudes Op. 2: II. Moderato in E Minor 03:45
• 8 Prokofiev: Four Etudes Op. 2: III. Andante semplice in C Minor 03:26
• 9 Prokofiev: Four Etudes Op. 2: IV. Presto energico in C Minor 01:30
• Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943): Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor:
• 10 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: I. Theme. Largo 01:17
• 11 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: II. Variation I - II - III- IV -V - VI 03:54
• 12 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: III. Variation VII - Variation VIII 00:42
• 13 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: IV. Variation IX 00:25
• 14 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: V. Variation X 00:39
• 15 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: VI. Variation XI 01:31
• 16 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: VII. Variation XII 02:47
• 17 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: VIII. Variation XIII - Variation XIV 03:44
• 18 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: IX. Variation XV 01:43
• 19 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: X. Variation XVI - Variation XVII 02:51
• 20 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: XI. Variation XVIII 00:56
• 21 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: XII. Variation XIX - Variation XX 02:39
• 22 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: XIII. Variation XXI 03:45
• 23 Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Chopin Op. 22 in C Minor: XIV. Variation XXII 05:16
• Total Runtime 01:09:40

Info for Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev

At just 22 years old, Chinese pianist Tianxu An is one of his country's most promising virtuosos. In 2019, he gained international attention by winning the fourth prize at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow—presided over by Denis Matsuev, who hailed his performance as "sensational at this stage of maturity"—and a special prize for "courage and restraint" (following a score error by a member of the organization). Tianxu An has already performed with the Mariinsky Orchestra under the direction of Valery Gergiev and with the China Philharmonic Orchestra under Xiaotang Xia at the Mariinsky Far East Festival; he has given recitals in Russia and China, where he toured 19 major cities in 2021, with two of his favorite composers on the program: Rachmaninov and Prokofiev. Fittingly it is to the Russian repertoire that he dedicates his first recording. He says he is particularly attracted by the "expressiveness, emotional power and melodic freedom" of the music of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Prokofiev.

Tianxu An, piano

Tianxu An
from Baoding, near Beijing, is a sought-after young artist, both at home in China and around the world. In June 2019, Tianxu drew international attention when he won fourth prize and a special prize for “courage and restraint” in the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition—the highest award for a Chinese pianist at that contest in 17 years. A month later, he made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Center.

Recent concert highlights include performances with the Mariinsky, China Philharmonic, NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts), and Macau Orchestras, as well as a 2021 major recital tour across China. He recorded his first CD in August 2021, a recital album for Alpha Classics featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, and Prokofiev. He previously won top awards at the Greenfield Student, “Helen Cup” Shanghai International Piano, and Wiesbaden International Piano Competitions.

Born into a non-musical family, Tianxu began his piano studies because his parents believed it a good way to develop intelligence. His love for and commitment to music grew throughout his time at the Middle School affiliated with the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. He moved to Philadelphia in 2015 to attend the Curtis Institute of Music under the tutelage of Meng-Chieh Liu and Robert McDonald, and also studies privately with Dang Thai Son. He graduates from Curtis this year, and his career pursuit is largely driven by the fact that “music is a powerful language which establishes a deeply emotional bond among people.”

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