Arts & Lectures
2005-2006 Performing Arts Season News Release
For Immediate Release

February 28, 2006

Yundi Li, the youngest winner of Chopin International Piano Competition, to give a recital at UCSB Campbell Hall

Summary Facts:

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents a special solo recital by 25-year-old Yundi Li, the 2000 International Chopin Piano Competition top honors winner, on Tuesday, April 11 at 8 pm at UCSB Campbell Hall. Li, the first person in 15 years to win the first prize in the event, is reportedly the youngest and first Chinese winner in the competition’s 79-year history. Although no longer playing competitively, Li continues to release recordings of works from the romantic period, including “gripping interpretations of Chopin and Liszt” (The Wall Street Journal).

The Frederick Chopin International Piano Competition is one of the oldest events of its type in the world, and enjoys great prestige and universal renown. In the over 70 years of its existence, the competition has extended from an original 26 pianists from eight countries to 2000’s competition, when Li proved victorious in a field of 94 pianists from 25 countries.

When Li was seven, he asked his parents to let him have piano lessons. At the age of 12, Li gave the best performance in a fiercely competitive selection process and thus earned himself a place at the top music school in Sichuan province. At 13, Li won the Stravinsky Competition in the United States. He went on to take First Prize at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in the United States and Third Prize at the Franz Liszt Piano Competition in the Netherlands, as well as being a winner in the Second China International Piano Competition in Beijing. His success at the Chopin Competition made him a musical superstar in China.

Li signed an exclusive recording with Deutsche Grammophon in 2001. The New York Times named Li’s second recording featuring Liszt “Best of the Year” for 2003 and also praised his recent recording of Chopin Scherzos and Impromptus for his “white-hot virtuosity” and “uncanny clarity.” Deutsche Grammophon just released the Vienna Recital CD and plans to release a new recording featuring Li each year through 2008. He has already released six albums, performing the romantic works of Chopin, Mozart, Schumann, Scarlatti and Lizst, including a live recording of his winning 2000 performance at the Chopin International Piano Competition.

For his Santa Barbara recital, Li’s program includes Mozart, Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330; Schumann, Carnaval, Op. 9; Chopin, Andante spianato and Grande polonaise brillante, Op. 22; Liszt, Rhapsodie espagnole, S. 254.

Li is no stranger to the United States. In July 2003, he made his American concerto debut wit the Philadelphia Orchestra, performing Chopin Piano Concerto, No. 1. In April 2004, he completed his North American debut recital tour, which included sold out performances in Boston, Vancouver, San Francisco and New York. In 2005, he performed in Los Angeles and New York (Carnegie Hall) with the American Youth Symphony, celebrating its 50th anniversary. His second major U.S. recital tour in April 2005 included performances in Seattle, San Diego, Cincinnati, Columbus, Baltimore and New York. Li continues his musical studies in Germany.

Yundi Li is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures and sponsored by KDB Radio, Cheshire Cat and Stolpman Vineyards. The event is generously supported by Carla & Stephen Hahn, Dolores M. Hsu and the Albert & Elaine Borchard Foundation. Concert tickets are $40 for the general public and $17 for UCSB students who must show valid ID at ticket purchase and the evening of the show.

For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.

Editor: For photos, please call
George Yatchisin at (805) 893-3494.

©2006 UCSB Arts & Lectures, University of California, Santa Barbara