F. Chopin: Nocturne No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 9, No. 1
F. Chopin: Nocturne No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 9, No. 2
F. Chopin: Nocturne No. 5 in F sharp major, Op. 15, No. 2
F. Chopin: Nocturne No. 8 in D flat major, Op. 27, No. 2
F. Chopin: Nocturne No. 13 in C minor, Op. 48, No. 1
F. Chopin: Andante spianato and Grande polonaise brillante, Op. 22
F. Chopin: Four Mazurkas, Op.33
F. Chopin: Piano Sonata No.2 in B flat minor, Op.35
F. Chopin: Polonaise in A flat major, Op.53 “Heroic”

Quartet
Piano: YUNDI

Li Yundi is one of China’s best pianists.His unique musicianship and even temperament have helped him carve a special place on the international scene.A highly poetic pianist, his playing is faithful, natural and unmannered.

In October, 2000, 18-year-old Yundi was the only pianist chosen by China’s State Ministry of Culture to participate in the 14th International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition, in Warsaw, Poland.Yundi dazzled the jury and the audience with Chopin’s Piano Concerto no. 1 in E minor, winning First Prize - the first time it had been awarded for 15 years.Yundi was also became the youngest winner of the Competition in its 70 year history, and also the first ever Chinese winner.He focused the international spotlight on piano in China, and became a role model for young people in China.Comments from the jury included: “In Chopin, he is the most perfect and most poetic pianist,” “His playing embodied the best voice and most perfect technique,” “He mastered the balance of the various musical elements perfectly,” and “He is a qualified successor.”The international critics commented that his playing was like “the sound of heaven, extremely elegant and clean, sincere and natural, faithful to the original.He is a contemporary poet, and a noble and romantic pianist.”

Yundi is the first Chinese pianist to be featured in a cover story in “The Wall Street Journal” and Japanese Time magazine.He is the first Chinese pianist to have had a model made in his image by Madame Tussauds.He is the first Chinese pianist to have recorded with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Seiji Ozawa.In 2001, Yundi signed with Deutsche Grammophon, becoming the first Chinese pianist to sign with the company.In December that same year, his debut album “Li Yundi: Chopin Recital” broke the record for classical sales, and was awarded the IFPI Hong Kong Top Music Sales award.The Washington Post commented: “He gave the audience the real and robust Chopin, eloquent and powerful, natural and frank, sharp and contrasted.”

In December 2002, Yundi’s second album "Li Yundi: Liszt" sold well, all over the world, and won the 2003 authoritative classical music awards “Classical Echo?” in Germany for best solo album of the year, the Edison classical album award in Holland, was recommended by The New York Times as “the best classical album of 2003,” and came fourth in the China Gold Album solo and special awards.The UK’s BBC Music Magazine said: “Li’s tone is so controlled, from the softest to the loudest … Technically, this whole album is perfect.”The New York Times commented: “a thoughtful performance.His superior skills are absolutely enviable.”
In 2004, Yundi released his third album “Chopin Scherzos and Impromptus".The style, interpretation and understanding of Chopin showed his artistic maturity and individuality.The chief music critic of The New York Times, Anthony Tommasini, commented: “Li’s technique is brilliant, and the performance is refined.He is an exploratory and sensitive musician.”

At the end of 2005, Yundi released a fourth album “Vienna Recital”, a live recording from the Vienna Musikverein.The sound was faultless, and it’s a stunning live album.Yundi thus became the first Chinese pianist to record in this legendary concert hall, following in the footsteps of Rachmaninov and Horowitz.
In November 2006, Yundi’s fifth album “Chopin and Liszt Piano Concertos No. 1” was released.These two works have long been favourite’s of Yundi’s, and indeed the Chopin was one of the pieces with which he won over Martha Argerich and the other judges in the final of the Chopin Competition.Yundi’s own romantic nature gave the Liszt Concerto a lyrical yet fantastic flair.

At the end of 2007, Yundi released his sixth album with Seiji Ozawa and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - Ravel’s G major Concerto, and Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto no. 2 in G minor.This was the second concerto album Yundi recorded for DG, and it achieved gold record sales within just one month.
By 2009, Yundi had recorded eight acclaimed albums, released all over the world, and had achieved platinum honours at international awards ceremonies.His album had been voted the best solo album by Germany’s “Classical Echo”; he had received a special award at the fourth China Gold Record awards ceremony, and the best album of the year from The New York Times.Yundi has been invited to perform at Vienna's Golden Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic Hall, the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw, Washington Kennedy Art Center, New York Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall in Japan, and China's National Grand Theatre.He commented that he very early achieved the highest state of piano playing.Yundi’s Chopin playing earned him a place as a special performer at Chopin’s 200th Birthday Concert in Warsaw, Poland, on 1st March, 2010.

Yundi’s achievements and influence go beyond music.In 2007, he was appointed Youth Volunteer Ambassador in Shenzhen to encourage the public to become involved in charitable activities.In 2009 he became the spokesman for the image of his birthplace, Chongqing Municipality.And brands such as Nike, Rolex, and Mercedes have invited him as their spokesman in China.

On May 25^th 2010, Yundi was conferred with the Honorary Medal of Arts and Culture from Poland’s Minister of Culture Bogdan Zdrojewski, becoming the youngest and the first ever Chinese recipient of this prestigious award. The medal is reserved for only those artists who have made a significant contribution to the culture of Poland, promoted the Polish arts, and helped bring about a greater cultural exchange between Poland and other nations.
For the past 10 years, Yundi has been invited to play all over the world, and has toured more than 20 countries and more than 200 cities in Europe, America and Asia.He has worked with many orchestras and conductors including Seiji Ozawa, Lorin Maazel, Gustavo Dudamel, Valery Gergiev, James Levine, Riccardo Chailly, and Yuri Temirkanov.Media praise for this young pianist includes:

“Full of musical talent” - The New York Times
“His Chopin is perfect” - The New York Times
“Li Yundi has a strong personality, very much like the former stars Horowitz and Rubinstein” - Toronto Star
“Leader of the piano world!” - Gramophone
“Star – Style” - Boston Globe
“First class world pianist” - Washington Post
“Li Yundi has an amazing technique, and his playing is both elegant and lively.This cool performance make was very exciting!” - The New York Times’ Chief Music Critic, Anthony Tommasini
“Li Yundi is a hero supported by the world’s music lovers” - Boston Globe
“Thoughtful interpretation, but also a dazzling and exciting performance."
“Liszt's Sonata in B minor, in his vivid and personal interpretation, is like a Faustian drama."
“Surprisingly, Li Yundi’s interpretation achieved a balance between freedom and precision.” - The New York Times
“Li Yundi is a poetic pianist, and he has an extremely keen sense of touch (but when necessary also an extraordinary strength).His perception of music and melody is also faultless, and these qualities made his Chopin perfect.” - The New York Times“Li Yundi proved he is already a top pianist in the world.” - Washington Post
“Li Yundi brought the audience a real and robust Chopin experience, eloquent and powerful, natural and frank, sharp and contrasted.” - Washington Post
“Extremely elegant playing, great level of perfection.” - Los Angeles Times
“Li’s tone and control is wonderful, even the softest and loudest passages.” - BBC Music Magazine