Chen Pi-hsien
Encyclopedia
Chen Pi-hsien is a well-known Taiwanese
classical pianist
. She has received honors at several international piano competitions and was praised as the "Chinese Miracle" by European media. She teaches at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg
and lives in Germany
at present.
but went to Taiwan
in 1949 during the Civil War. Her father was a college professor. She began to take piano lessons at the age of four and gave public performance at the early age of five. When she was nine, she was sent to Cologne
to continue her studies at the Hochschule für Musik Köln
with Hans-Otto Schmidt-Neuhaus, where she received her diploma as classical pianist in 1970. In the following years she pursued her studies with Hans Leygraf and took part in piano courses given by Wilhelm Kempff
, Tatiana Nikolayeva
, Claudio Arrau
, and Geza Anda
.
In 1972, Chen won international appreciation with a prize at the Concours Reine Elisabeth and the first prize at the Rundfunkanstalten ARD International Piano Competition
in Munich
. Later she won the first prizes at the Arnold Schonberg Competition in Rotterdam
and at the J.S.Bach Competition in Washington D.C.
Since then Chen has given performances at important places such as London
, Amsterdam
, Zürich
, Berlin
, Munich and Tokyo
. She has played with famous orchestras, such as the London Symphony Orchestra
, the BBC Symphony Orchestra
, the Concertgebouw Orchestra , the Residentie Orchestra
, the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra and all German Radio Symphony Orchestras. Conductors, with whom she has worked, were Bernhard Haitink, Paul Sacher
, Sir Colin Davis, Charles Dutoit
, Marek Janowsky, Hans Zendr, Peter Eötvös
and others. She was partner of Hermann Baumann
, Pierre-Laurent Aimard
, Augustin Dumay, Alyssa Park, Wolfgang Meyer
and Julius Berger
. She took part in numerous music festivals: she gave performances in the Schwetzinger Festspiele, the London Proms, the Osaka Festival, the Hong Kong Arts Festival
, the Festival d'Automne Paris, the Festival Wien Modern and the Triennale Cologne 1994 and 1997, as well as the Festivals of Lucerne and Osaka.
Her increasing interest and engagement for contemporary music grew in the cooperation with composers as John Cage
, Pierre Boulez
, Karlheinz Stockhausen
and Gyorgy Kurtag
. In 1999, She was successfully touring in mainland China
, Hong Kong
and Taiwan
. Besides that she performed music by contemporary German composers and pieces by John Cage and Elliott Carter
on different German festivals.
Since 1983, Chen has been a professor for the piano at the Hochschule für Musik Köln. Since 2004 she holds a similar position at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg. She also holds the position of guest professor at the Institute of Music of National Chiao Tung University
.
Taiwanese people
Taiwanese people may refer to individuals who either claim or are imputed cultural identity focused on the island of Taiwan and/or Taiwan Area which have been governed by the Republic of China since 1945...
classical pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. She has received honors at several international piano competitions and was praised as the "Chinese Miracle" by European media. She teaches at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg
Hochschule für Musik Freiburg
The Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Freiburg is a public music academy subsidized by the State of Baden-Württemberg for academic research and artistic and pedagogical training in music.-History:The Hochschule was initially founded as a municipal institution in 1946 under the direction of Gustav...
and lives in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
at present.
Biography
Chen Pi-hsien was born in Taiwan on November 15, 1950. Her parents were born in mainland ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
but went to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in 1949 during the Civil War. Her father was a college professor. She began to take piano lessons at the age of four and gave public performance at the early age of five. When she was nine, she was sent to Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
to continue her studies at the Hochschule für Musik Köln
Hochschule für Musik Köln
The Cologne University of Music is a music college in Cologne, and Germany's largest academy of music.-History:The academy was founded by Ferdinand Hiller in 1850 as Conservatorium der Musik in Coeln...
with Hans-Otto Schmidt-Neuhaus, where she received her diploma as classical pianist in 1970. In the following years she pursued her studies with Hans Leygraf and took part in piano courses given by Wilhelm Kempff
Wilhelm Kempff
Wilhelm Walter Friedrich Kempff was a German pianist and composer. Although his repertory included Bach, Liszt, Chopin, Schumann, and Brahms, Kempff was particularly well-known for his interpretations of the music of Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert, both of whose complete sonatas he also...
, Tatiana Nikolayeva
Tatiana Nikolayeva
Tatiana Petrovna Nikolayeva was a Russian Soviet pianist, composer and teacher.-Early life:Nikolayeva was born in Bezhitsa in the Bryansk district on May 4, 1924...
, Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau León was a Chilean pianist known for his interpretations of a vast repertoire spanning from the baroque to 20th-century composers, especially Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms and Debussy...
, and Geza Anda
Géza Anda
Géza Anda was a Hungarian pianist. A celebrated interpreter of classical and romantic repertoire, particularly noted for his performances and recordings of Mozart, he was also a tremendous interpreter of Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms and Bartók....
.
In 1972, Chen won international appreciation with a prize at the Concours Reine Elisabeth and the first prize at the Rundfunkanstalten ARD International Piano Competition
ARD International Music Competition
The ARD International Music Competition is the largest international classical music competition in Germany. It is held once a year in Munich.-History:...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. Later she won the first prizes at the Arnold Schonberg Competition in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
and at the J.S.Bach Competition in Washington D.C.
Since then Chen has given performances at important places such as London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Munich and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. She has played with famous orchestras, such as the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
, the BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
, the Concertgebouw Orchestra , the Residentie Orchestra
Residentie Orchestra
Het Residentie Orkest is a Dutch orchestra based in The Hague. Its primary venue is the Dr. Anton Philipszaal....
, the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra and all German Radio Symphony Orchestras. Conductors, with whom she has worked, were Bernhard Haitink, Paul Sacher
Paul Sacher
Paul Sacher was a Swiss conductor, patron and impresario.-Biography:He studied under Felix Weingartner, among others. In 1926 he founded the Basel Chamber Orchestra to play works written before the classical period and modern works...
, Sir Colin Davis, Charles Dutoit
Charles Dutoit
Charles Édouard Dutoit, is a Swiss conductor, particularly noted for his interpretations of French and Russian 20th century music...
, Marek Janowsky, Hans Zendr, Peter Eötvös
Peter Eötvös
Péter Eötvös is a Hungarian composer and conductor.Eötvös was born in Odorheiu Secuiesc/Székelyudvarhely, Szeklerland, Transylvania . He studied composition in Budapest and Cologne. From 1962, he composed for film in Hungary. Eötvös played regularly with the Stockhausen Ensemble between 1968 and...
and others. She was partner of Hermann Baumann
Hermann Baumann
Hermann Baumann is a virtuoso horn player, teacher and composer.After starting his musical career as a singer and jazz drummer he switched to horn at the age of 17...
, Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Pierre-Laurent Aimard is a French pianist. He was born in Lyon, where he entered the conservatory. Later he studied with Yvonne Loriod and with Maria Curcio....
, Augustin Dumay, Alyssa Park, Wolfgang Meyer
Wolfgang Meyer
Wolfgang Meyer is a German clarinetist.Meyer studied clarinet at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Stuttgart, and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover along with his sister Sabine Meyer. He has led masterclasses in Brazil, Italy, Japan, Canada and Finland. He is a member of Trio di...
and Julius Berger
Julius Berger
Julius Berger may refer to:*Julius Berger, character in Outcasts *Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, a German construction company in Nigeria*Julius Berger FC, a football club of Julius Berger Nigeria PLC...
. She took part in numerous music festivals: she gave performances in the Schwetzinger Festspiele, the London Proms, the Osaka Festival, the Hong Kong Arts Festival
Hong Kong Arts Festival
Hong Kong Arts Festival , founded in 1973, is a focus programmes for the Culture of Hong Kong, in order to provides a wide range of art programmes from all over the world....
, the Festival d'Automne Paris, the Festival Wien Modern and the Triennale Cologne 1994 and 1997, as well as the Festivals of Lucerne and Osaka.
Her increasing interest and engagement for contemporary music grew in the cooperation with composers as John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
, Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
, Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen was a German composer, widely acknowledged by critics as one of the most important but also controversial composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Another critic calls him "one of the great visionaries of 20th-century music"...
and Gyorgy Kurtag
György Kurtág
György Kurtág is a Hungarian composer of contemporary music.- Biography :György Kurtág was born in Lugoj in the Banat region, Romania.In 1946, he began his studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where he met his wife, Márta, and also György Ligeti, who became a close friend...
. In 1999, She was successfully touring in mainland China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Besides that she performed music by contemporary German composers and pieces by John Cage and Elliott Carter
Elliott Carter
Elliott Cook Carter, Jr. is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer born and living in New York City. He studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris in the 1930s, and then returned to the United States. After a neoclassical phase, he went on to write atonal, rhythmically complex music...
on different German festivals.
Since 1983, Chen has been a professor for the piano at the Hochschule für Musik Köln. Since 2004 she holds a similar position at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg. She also holds the position of guest professor at the Institute of Music of National Chiao Tung University
National Chiao Tung University
National Chiao Tung University is a public university located in Hsinchu, Taiwan. It is recognized as one of the most prestigious and selective universities in Taiwan and is renowned for its research and teaching excellence in electrical engineering, computer science, engineering, management, and...
.
Discography
- J.S. Bach, "Goldberg Variations" (Naxos RecordsNaxos RecordsNaxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
) [NOTE: this recording was the one pirated by William Barrington-CoupeWilliam Barrington-CoupeWilliam H. Barrington-Coupe is a British record producer. He attained notoriety in 2007 when he confessed that a large number of piano CDs that he had sold on his Concert Artist/Fidelio Recordings label were not in fact performed by his wife Joyce Hatto but were copies, in some cases digitally...
as being the work of his wife, Joyce HattoJoyce HattoJoyce Hatto was a British pianist and piano teacher. She became famous late in life, when unauthorised copies of commercial recordings made by other pianists were released under her name, earning her high praise from critics. The fraud did not come to light until a few months after her...
, in a celebrated plagiarism hoax.] - J.S. Bach, "Goldberg Variations" (2003)(CFM)
- J.S. Bach, "Die Kunst Der Fuge" (CFM)
- P. Boulez, "Notations" and "Structures II", with B. Wambach (CBS)
- P. Boulez, "Notations" and "3 Piano Sonatas". (hat-now-art)
- P. Boulez, "Structures" I & II; J. Cage, "Music for Piano". (hat-now-art)
- O. Messiaen, "Harawi" with S.V. Osten (ITM)
- W. Mozart, "Mozart Piano Works" (2 CD) (Sunrise)
- Jean Barraqué and Pierre Boulez: " Sonatas: (Telos)
- York Höller, "Signals" (Largo)
- Arnold Schönberg, Complete Piano Music for Two Hands (hat-now-art)
- Xiaoyong Chen, "Invisible Landscapes" (Radio Bremen)
External links
- Chen Pi-hsien's profile and discography at Naxos Chen Pi-hsien at Hochschule für Musik Freiburg official site