Li Yundi

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This is a Chinese name; the family name is 李 (Li).
Li Yundi

Background information
Born October 7, 1982 (age 24)
Chongqing, China
Occupation(s) pianist
Instrument(s) Piano

Li Yundi (Chinese: 李云迪, pinyin: Lǐ Yúndí) (born October 7, 1982) is a well-known young classical pianist. He is also popularly known by the Western iteration of his name, Yundi Li. Born in Chongqing, China, Li is most well known for being the youngest pianist to win the prestigious International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition at the age of 18. Li currently resides in Hannover, Germany, where he studies with his teacher Arie Vardi at the Hannover Conservatory of Music.


Contents

[edit] Childhood

Li first began to learn the accordion at the young age of four with Tan Jian Min, one of the prestigious music professors in China. Only one year later, he won the top prize at the Chongqing Children's Accordion Competition. Li began studying piano at the age of seven. Two years later, he began to study with Dan Zhao Yi, one of China's most renowned piano teachers. Li's ambition was to become a professional pianist. In 1994, he entered the junior high school associated with the Sichuan Music Academy.

[edit] Awards

Li has received top awards at various competitions. In 1995, he was awarded first place at the Stravinksy International Youth Competition. In 1998, he won the 1998 South Missouri International Youth Piano Competition. The next year, he took Third Prize at the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition of Utrecht, as well as being a major winner in the China International Piano Competition. He also won first place at the Gina Bachauer Young Artists International Piano Competition.

In October 2000, Li participated in the 14th International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. He was the first participant to be awarded First Prize in 15 years, and at 18 years of age, the youngest winner in the competition's history. Li is also the competition's first Chinese winner. Li was given a Polonaise award by the Chopin Society for his performance at the competition.

[edit] Performing and recording career

Li's debut in the United States took place in June 2003 at Carnegie Hall, as part of Steinway and Sons' 150th Anniversary Gala. His United States concerto debut took place the next month, when he performed Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1. He was also honoured at a special reception at the home of the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, where he performed for various officials of the US State Department.

Currently, Li's performance programmes and records consist exclusively of works by Chopin and Liszt. His second recording of Liszt for Deutsche Grammophon, whom he still—as of 2006—exclusively records for, was released in August 2003 named "Best CD of the Year" by the New York Times. His third recording, comprising Chopin's four Scherzi and three Impromptus, was released in late 2004. Recently, he has also given a recital in the renowned Wiener Musikverein, performing works by Mozart, Scarlatti, Schumann, and Liszt.

In November 2006, he emigrated to Hong Kong under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the first batch of people to do so under the scheme.

[edit] Recordings

Chopin Recital

  • Piano Sonata in B minor No. 3 op. 58
  • Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante op. 22
  • Études op. 10 Nos. 2 + 5 op. 25 No. 11 »Winter Wind«
  • Nocturnes op. 9 Nos. 1 + 2 op. 15 No. 2
  • Impromptu op. 66

CD |D|D|D| 4714792

Franz Liszt

  • Piano Sonata in B minor
  • La Campanella
  • Widmung after Schumann: Liebeslied
  • Liebestraum No. 3
  • Tarantella from Venezia e Napoli
  • Rigoletto-Paraphrase

CD |D|D|D| 471 585-2 SACD |D|D|D| 474 2972 Awards: Echo Award 2003

Chopin: Scherzi & Impromptus

  • 4 Scherzi:
  • No. 1 op. 20 · No. 2 op. 31
  • No. 3 op. 39 · No. 4 op. 54
  • 3 Impromptus
  • No. 1 op. 29 · No. 2 op. 36
  • No. 3 op. 51

SACD |D|D|D| 474 8782 CD |D|D|D| 474 5162

Vienna Recital

  • Liszt: Rhapsodie espagnole
  • Mozart: Piano Sonata KV 330
  • D. Scarlatti: Sonatas K. 380 + K. 13
  • Schumann: Carnaval op. 9

CD |D|D|D| 477 557-1 |G|H|

Chopin & Liszt Piano Concerto No.1

  • Liszt: Concerto for piano no.1 in E-Flat,S.124
  • Chopin: Concerto for piano no.1 in E-minor,op.11

CD |D|D|D| 00289 477 6402 |G|H|

[edit] External links

Columbia Artists Management, Inc. *[1]

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