Alexander Yau Piano concert

Pianist Alexander Yau brings his unique touch and intricate musicianship to a program exploring the extraordinary colours and expressive possibilities of the piano. From Debussy’s atmospheric Préludes, evoking perfumes, distant landscapes, footsteps in snow and the force of the west wind, to Liszt’s monumental Sonata in B minor. The 2nd half materialises with Ravel’s Jeux d’eau, to the solemn and meditative Pavane pour une infante défunte and rousing in a touch of Spain, the Alborada del gracioso. The concert closes with Liszt’s dazzling Valse from Gounod’s Faust, erupts the afternoon to an electrifying close.

 

Alexander Yau, an eminent young Australian pianist, has developed himself as a complete musician incorporating his many musical talents as a chamber musician, conductor and composer. Pianist Balazs Szokolay describes "his artistic taste is good enough not to make any kind of ‘show’ even in the most brilliant parts of great masterworks".

His major concerto appearances as soloist include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra and the SBS Youth Orchestra in Rachmaninoff’s first three Concertos, Sydney Conservatorium Orchestra in Brahms’ Piano Concerto no. 2, as well as various orchestras in Europe such as the Festival Orchestra Sinfonica “Duchi d’Acquaviva” and Budweis Philharmonic Orchestra. He has given solo and chamber performances in festivals around the US, Italy, German, Norway, Japan, China and Australia. In 2022 he released his first album with ABC Classics in collaboration with clarinettist Deborah de Graff. He was a prize winner at numerous competitions such as the Hastings International Piano Competition, Teresa Carreno International Masters Piano Competition and many others. Alexander obtained his Masters degree at the Juilliard School studying with prof. Matti Raekallio. He is currently Associate lecturer in collaborative piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of music and casual Principal pianist at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He served as assistant conductor for the 2023 production of Madama Butterfly at Opera Australia and has conducted La Boheme in a tour of 9 performances across Slovenia, including Ljubljana Festival.

 

The Program

 

 

 

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