Franz Liszt’s Years of Pilgrimage Second Year: Italy is a masterwork in the Romantic style. Composed between 1837 and 1849, the suite is consisted of seven pieces, all inspired by other art forms such as visual art and poetry. The artists credited in the pieces include Michelangelo, Raphael, Petrarch, and Dante, all of which Liszt came across during his stay in Italy.
When pianist Han Chen was invited by the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts to give a debut recital at the Carnegie Weill Hall in the 2021-2022 season (date TBD), he decided to create his own pilgrimage by reimagining Romanticism. Chen reached out to four composers who have inspired him in his musical career, and he invited them to create new works for the concert. The four astounding composers are: Paul Frucht, David Fulmer, Lei Liang and Nina C. Young. They have each committed to write a new piano solo piece about eight minutes.
This project reflects on Chen’s artistic mission to bridge classical and contemporary music, which, to Chen, should not be defined by the period of time. In order to overcome the barrier between the two worlds, Chen always programs his concerts in a curatorial manner, so that each of his concerts can be focused on a theme that breaks the boundary between the old and new. The Carnegie concert will be a highlight of the endeavor, which will unite all music-lovers to indulge themselves in a new Romanticism.
Learn More: http://hanchenpiano.com