Poets of the Piano
Yuan Sheng
Chopin · Beethoven · Schumann Trilogy
Overview
Between December 2021 and May 2022, pianist Yuan Sheng presented a trilogy of recitals at Wuhan Qintai Concert Hall, each dedicated to one of the great voices of Romantic piano literature: Chopin, Beethoven, and Schumann. Together, the three programs explored poetry, philosophy, and fantasy in music, offering audiences a panorama of Romantic imagination.
Recording & Award
Yuan Sheng’s Schumann Piano Works album (signed edition), featuring highlights of this repertoire, was awarded the Best Piano Performance Album in the “Top Ten Audiophile Recordings of the Year” by the Guangdong Musicians Association in 2020.
Concerts
Chopin: Poetry and Distance – December 24, 2021
2 Nocturnes, Op.62;
24 Preludes, Op.28;
3 Mazurkas, Op.59;
Piano Sonata No.3 in B Minor, Op.58
Beloved Beethoven – March 12, 2022
Sonata No.30 in E Major, Op.109;
Sonata No.31 in A-flat Major, Op.110;
Sonata No.32 in C Minor, Op.111;
Sonata No.21 in C Major, Op.53 “Waldstein”
Schumann: Romance and Visions – May 14, 2022
Clara Schumann Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann, Op.20;
Robert Schumann Davidsbündlertänze, Op.6;
Fantasie in C Major, Op.17;
Brahms Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann, Op.9
About the Trilogy
Each recital was carefully designed to embody a facet of Romantic piano literature:
- Chopin’s lyricism and intimacy, culminating in the monumental 24 Preludes.
- Beethoven’s late sonatas, spanning struggle, transcendence, and renewal.
- Schumann’s world of fantasy and literary spirit, enriched by Clara Schumann’s and Brahms’s homages.
As Yuan Sheng remarked, “Schumann has always been my secret love — Fantasie in C Major is a lifelong companion. Music transcends time and boundaries; where there is love, there is companionship.”