- Li Yundi
Infobox musical artist
Name = Li Yundi
Img_capt =
Background = classical_ensemble
Birth_name =
Born = birth date and age|1982|10|7
Chongqing ,China
Died =
Instrument =Piano
Genre =
Occupation =pianist
Years_active =Li Yundi (Chinese: 李云迪,
pinyin : Lǐ Yúndí) (bornOctober 7 ,1982 ) is a classicalpianist . He is also popularly known by the Western iteration of his name, Yundi Li. Born inChongqing ,China , Li is most well known for being the youngest pianist to win theInternational Frederick Chopin Piano Competition at the age of 18 in the year 2000. Li now resides inHong Kong , where he continues to give concerts with theHong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra .Childhood
His father, Li Chuan, and his mother, Zhang Xiaolu, both worked for the Sichuan Chongqing Steel and Iron Company. [cite news| last =Chan| first =Vivien Pik-Kwan| title =Shenzhen pianist shows forte| page =1| publisher ="
South China Morning Post "| date =2000-10-21| ] Although coming from a family of non-musicians, Li Yundi took to music early. When he was three-years old, his parents bought him anaccordion after he was so entranced by an accordion player in a shopping mall that he refused to leave. [cite news| last =Bargreen| first =Melinda| title =Piano prodigy loves what he is doing, as his brilliance attests| page =J1| publisher ="Seattle Times "| date =2005-04-10| ] He mastered the instrument by the age of four, studying with Tan Jian Min, a music professor in China. Only one year later, he won the top prize at the Chongqing Children's Accordion Competition.cite news| last =Kishinami| first =Yukiko| title =Piano prodigy restores luster to Chopin competition| page =1| publisher ="Daily Yomiuri "| date =2001-05-03| ] Li began studying piano at the age of seven. Two years later, his teacher introduced him to Dan Zhao Yi, one of China's most renowned piano teachers, with whom he would study for nine years.cite news| last =Eatock| first =Colin| title =Pianist as pop star. Is Yundi Li better than Lang Lang? He says he doesn't care| page =R1| publisher ="The Globe and Mail "| date =2008-02-13| url =http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080213.LI13/TPStory/TPEntertainment/Music/| accessdate =2008-02-14 ] Li's ambition was to become a professional pianist. In 1994, he entered thejunior high school associated with theSichuan Music Academy.Awards
Li has received top awards at various competitions. He won the Children's Piano Competition in Beijing in 1994. 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 theInternational 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. [cite news| last =| first =| title =Charity show for Shenzhen pianist| page =5| publisher ="South China Morning Post "| date =2000-12-01| ]In October 2000, at the urging of the Chinese Culture Ministry, Li participated in the 14th
International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition inWarsaw . He was the first participant to be awarded First Prize in 15 years. At 18 years of age, he was the youngest winner—and the first Chinese—in the competition's history. Li was given aPolonaise award by the Chopin Society for his performance at the competition.Soon after, Li sought out pianist
Arie Vardi as an instructor, and therefore left his parents' home to live and study at a music school inHannover, Germany ("Hochschule fuer Musik und Theater").Performing and recording career
Li's debut in the United States took place in June 2003 at
Carnegie Hall , as part ofSteinway 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 USState Department .Li's second recording of
Liszt forDeutsche Grammophon , for whom he still—as of 2006 —exclusively records, was released in August 2003 and was named "Best CD of the Year" by "The New York Times ". His third recording, comprising Chopin's four Scherzi and threeImpromptu s, was released in late 2004. He has also given a recital in the renownedMusikverein inVienna , performing works byMozart , Scarlatti, Schumann, and Liszt.Li emigrated to Hong Kong in November 2006 under the
Quality Migrant Admission Scheme , the first batch of people to do so under the scheme. [cite news| last =| first =| title =Pianist Li Yundi becomes a Hong Kong resident| page =2| publisher ="South China Morning Post "| date =2007-01-16| ]Li is the subject of a forthcoming feature-length documentary, "", directed by
Barbara Willis Sweete .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. 66CD |D|D|D| 4714792Franz Liszt
* Piano Sonata in B minor
* La Campanella
* Wierdmung after Schumann: Liebeslied
* Liebestraum No. 3
* Tarantella from Venezia e Napoli
* Rigoletto-ParaphraseCD |D|D|D| 471 585-2SACD |D|D|D| 474 2972 Awards: Echo Award 2003Chopin: 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. 51SACD |D|D|D| 474 8782 CD |D|D|D| 474 5162Vienna Recital
* Liszt: Rhapsodie espagnole
* Mozart: Piano Sonata KV 330
* D. Scarlatti: Sonatas K. 380 + K. 13
* Schumann: Carnaval op. 9CD |D|D|D| 477 557-1 |G|HChopin & 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.11CD |D|D|D| 00289 477 6402 |G|HProkofiev/Ravel: Piano Concertos
* Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor
* Ravel: Piano Concerto in G majorE minorCD |D|D|D| 477 659-3 |G|HReferences
External links
* [http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/artistmicrosite/?ART_ID=LIYUN Li Yundi] at Deutsche Grammophon
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOV243bFw20 Li plays Chopin Scherzo No. 1 Op. 30]
* [http://yundili.homestead.com/ Li Yundi] fan site
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