The thirteenth Gulangyu Piano Art Week, themed “Our Island, Our Piano,” commenced on September 30 in the charming setting of Gulangyu Island, Xiamen. The event, which runs from September 30 to October 6, spans seven days and features over 50 activities centered around eight thematic chapters.
As the stars and moon shone, the sounds of the piano filled the air. Canadian-Vietnamese pianist Dang Thai Son, hailed as “Asia’s Chopin,” and a resident artist of Gulangyu, opened the event with a captivating performance on the evening of September 30. He played piano solos including “Adagio, BWV 564” and “Imaginary Collection, Volume 1,” and collaborated with his student Wang Zitong and the Fuzhou Straits Symphony Orchestra on classic concertos such as “Double Piano Concerto, K. 365” and “Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21.” The audience was transported through a sea of melodies, resonating with the unique rhythm and emotions of Gulangyu, and rewarded Dang Thai Son with thunderous applause. Additionally, French national honor knight recipient and fellow resident artist Michel Dalberto conducted a masterclass, sharing insights into the world of music and fostering connections among music lovers on this cultural island.
A highlight of the Gulangyu Piano Art Week is the boutique concerts featuring distinguished artists. In addition to Dang Thai Son, the event welcomes Michel Dalberto, Sofia Gubaidulina—who was the first woman to win the Leeds International Piano Competition and the Princess Mary Gold Medal—and Andrei Pisarev, a renowned Russian artist and head of the Piano Department at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Other notable participants include Lam Siu Pin, an organ instructor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Carolyn Robinson, organist and deputy choir director at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. These exceptional artists will not only present an extraordinary international music feast but also host seven high-end academic events that allow music enthusiasts from various backgrounds to engage in sharing experiences and appreciating the allure of art.
Moreover, a variety of musical activities, including courtyard concerts, beach performances, and piano classes, will showcase the infinite possibilities of music and enrich the cultural life of both residents and visitors. During the event, shared piano performance points, a starlit market, an art film screening room, and interactive art installations will be open across the island, encouraging the public to stroll through Piano Island, experience the purity and power of music up close, and inspire a passion for music while promoting the inheritance and development of musical culture.
Notably, at 10 a.m. on October 1, pianos across the island will play “My Motherland and I” in unison, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China with its beautiful melody.
As one of the prominent piano art brands in China and Asia, the Gulangyu Piano Art Week is a high-end public music event that continues to be held on Gulangyu Island. It serves as an important benchmark for establishing a musical high ground and enhances the cultural quality and richness of Gulangyu’s historical international community. The island’s music culture encompasses both high elegance and community life, featuring warm family concerts and vibrant street performances. These diverse musical forms have become an integral part of the islanders’ daily lives, attracting music lovers and professionals from around the globe, continually infusing Gulangyu with vitality and contributing significantly to Xiamen’s image as a “cultural center, city of arts, and music island.”
As a UNESCO-recognized World Cultural Heritage site, Gulangyu, with its unique cultural charm and musical rhythm, transcends borders and successfully draws attention from global music leaders and piano enthusiasts, highlighting its enduring allure and infinite brilliance as the “Island of Pianos” and “Island of Music.” The thirteenth Gulangyu Piano Art Week sets sail, showcasing vibrant musical chapters that contribute to the protection and transmission of world cultural heritage while heralding a new era for global music culture.
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