George Li - Live At The Mariinsky (CD)

This enthralling recital by the young American pianist George LI, silver medallist at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition, marks his recording debut and launches a new relationship with Warner Classics. Captured at a live performance in the Mariinsky Concert Hall in St Petersburg, it presents a dramatically conceived programme of works by Haydn, Chopin, Rachmaninov and Liszt: a descent into deep darkness; re-emergence into the light, and a concluding, boisterous celebration. LI, now 21 years old, was born in Boston to music-loving parents who came to the USA from China. He started taking part in music competitions as a child and experienced something of an epiphany when, as a young teenager, he performed a Beethoven concerto with orchestra. As he told Pianist magazine: "All of a sudden I felt like I had entered a different world... It was a unique and amazing experience: for the first time I was feeling music a lot more emotionally, rather than just remembering the right notes and where to come in. Afterwards people were coming up to me and saying that listening to me had changed their lives. I was shocked. I didn't know before that music had that kind of power. After that, I just wanted to be able to find that feeling again."

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Piano Sonata in B minor, Hob. XVI: 32: I. Allegro Moderato
2. Piano Sonata in B minor, Hob. XVI: 32: II. Menuetto
3. Piano Sonata in B minor, Hob. XVI: 32: III. Finale. Presto
4. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: I. Grave - Doppio Movimento
5. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: II. Scherzo
6. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: III. Marche Funèbre. Lento
7. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-Flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: IV. Finale. Presto
8. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: I. Theme (Andante)
9. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 1 (Poco Piu Mosso)
10. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 2 (L'istesso Tempo)
11. Variations on a Theme of Corelli Op. 42: Variation 3 (Tempo Di Minuetto)
12. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 4 (Andante)
13. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 5 (Allegro Ma Non Tanto)
14. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 6 (L'istesso Tempo)
15. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 7 (Vivace)
16. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 8 (Adagio Misterioso)
17. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 9 (Un Poco Piu Mosso)
18. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 10 (Allegro Scherzando)
19. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 11 (Allegro Vivace)
20. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 12 (L'istesso Tempo)
21. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 13 (Agitato)
22. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Intermezzo
23. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 14 (Andante [Come Prima])
24. Variations on a Theme of Corelli Op. 42: Variation 15 (L'istesso Tempo)
25. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 16 (Allegro Vivace)
26. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 17 (Meno Mosso)
27. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Variation 18 (Allegro Con Brio)
28. Variations on a Theme of Corelli Op. 42: Variation 19 (Piu Mosso. Agitato)
29. Variations on a Theme of Corelli Op. 42: Variation 20 (Piu Mosso)
30. Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42: Coda (Andante)
31. 6 Consolations, S. 172: No. 3 in D-Flat Major
32. Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244, R. 106: No. 2 in C-Sharp minor