review: jordan hall 2000

New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall (Friday, 12th May, 2000)

(translated by EChew)

[World Journal's Boston News] Three young musicians Tu Song, Shih Pi-Hsun and Elaine Chew presented a clarinet/piano duo and piano solo concert of the highest calibre to critical acclaim at the New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall on the night of the 12th. New England Conservatory composition professor, Yang Yong, praised the performers, who despite their youth, presented mature musical performances.

The concert opened with pianist Elaine Chew playing Ivan Tcherepnin's "Twelve Variations on Happy Birthday", composed in 1975. This little melody, unknown to practically no one, in Ivan Tcherepnin's creation, presented multi-faceted variations, almost as if it were written to showcase the talents of this pianist, who is also a PhD student in mathematics. "Ba Ban", commissioned from Chen Yi for the Carnegie Hall Millennium Piano Book, received its world premiere at Carnegie Hall in March. Based on traditional Chinese instruments' "Eight Beats" rhythmic patterns, it requires the utmost technical facility for its execution.

Elaine Chew demonstrated poetical and lyrical pianism in Wang Lisan's "Impressions of Paintings by Higashyama Kaii", based on four paintings by the renown Japanese painter: the stark, cold beauty of "Winter Blossoms", the golden, brilliant colors of "The Forest in Autumn Garb", the deeply reflective and remote quietude of "Lake", and the strength and majesty of "Crashing Waves", had the effect of knocking one's breath away. In presenting Massachusetts Institute of Technology Music Section Chair Peter Child's "Three Chinese Songs", specially penned for Elaine Chew, she first gave the audience a brief introduction, singing first in tender tones, "Precious Jewel" (In all the world, mother is the best), "Spring Song" (The sun sets but tomorrow it will rise again) and "Floating" (Blue, blue sky), then performing the pieces. The connection of these extremely unusual interludes to Mother's Day brought unexpected pleasure to the audience.

The second half was presented by the first clarinetist of the Shanghai Radio Philharmonic and the Shanghai Grand Theater Symphony Orchestra, Tu Song, in collaboraion with his wife, pianist Shih Pi-Hsun. They played four duos by Schumann, Debussy, Weber and Bernstein. The duo's seamless collaboration was especially apparent in their deeply moving interpretation of Weber's Grand Duo Concertante in E-flat major, Op. 48, which received unanimous praise from the audience.

Artistic director Cathy Chan of the sponsoring organization, Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts, said that all three musicians gave excellent performances. It is a pity that they are not yet well-known enough to compete with the many concerts taking place that night, resulting in the less than full house. Of the two hundred or so audiences that turned up, all expressed deep satisfaction with the performances. Young musicians need our support and sponsorship, and this is one such occasion.