Pianist Xun Pan is in the WRTI performance studio to warm us up for the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth, which is coming up in December. WRTI"s Kevin Gordon is host.
PROGRAM
Beethoven: Sonata No. 29 in B-flat, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier,” Allegro
Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathetique,” Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
Xun is performing the “Hammerklavier” and “Pathetique” sonatas on Saturday, August 31st at 7:30 PM in the Steinman Hall at the Ware Center in Lancaster. Xun will also play the same repertoire in the Oriental Arts Center in Shanghai on August 10th and the National Center for Performing Arts in Beijing on August 18th.
Xun says, “ I chose “Hammerklavier” because Beethoven remarked that no one could master the piece in 50 years after he wrote it. As a matter a fact, not too many pianists could perform this work even after 200 years since the sonata was written. The “Pathetique” sonata is one of the most well-known music by Beethoven. I’d like to pare this work with the “Hammerklavier” sonata so the audiences would enjoy more. “
Chinese-American pianist Xun Pan studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, Syracuse University in New York, and earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey. He has won many international piano competitions and awards, and has performed solo recitals worldwide from Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall to the Beijing National Center for Performing Arts.
A noted chamber musician, he is the pianist of the Newstead Trio, Trio Clavino, and Pennsylvania Piano Quartet. Their work has been broadcast live on radio and television, and they have released several highly acclaimed recordings. Trio Clavino toured seven cities in China with Fulbright Grants managed by the US Embassy in Beijing in 2014, and again in 2016. Xun Pan has served as a judge in many competitions including the "Frinna Awerbuch" International Piano Competition in New York, United States Music Open Competition in Oakland, CA, United States International Music competition in Stanford, CA, and Maria Clara Cullell International Piano Competition in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Xun is the Director of Keyboard Studies of The Tell School of Music at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, and is a visiting professor at many universities and conservatories in China.
He is one of the founding members and the Artistic Director of theLancaster International Piano Festival (LIPF). The 2019 LIPF will take place July 19 to 28 at Millersville University.
