The Complete Chopin
Yuan Sheng
Overview
Following his acclaimed Complete Bach and Complete Beethoven cycles, pianist Yuan Sheng has embarked on a new long-term artistic journey: The Complete Chopin. Over six years and twelve recitals, Sheng will perform the entirety of Chopin’s solo piano works — from the composer’s youthful pieces written at the age of seven, to his mature masterpieces.
This ambitious cycle is not only a tribute to Chopin as the “Poet of the Piano,” but also a rare opportunity for audiences to trace the composer’s artistic evolution in chronological order.
Concerts
“Poetic Chopin” – Jiangsu Grand Theatre, Nanjing – March 5, 2022
Program: 3 Mazurkas, Op.59; Piano Sonata No.3 in B Minor, Op.58; 2 Nocturnes, Op.62; 24 Preludes, Op.28
Chopin Complete Works I: 1817–1826 – Wuhan Qintai Concert Hall – September 26, 2015
Early works including Polonaises, Mazurkas, Rondo in C Minor, Op.1, and Variations on a German Air.
Pre-concert lecture: Chopin’s Youth
Chopin Complete Works II: 1826–1829 – Wuhan Qintai Concert Hall – September 27, 2015
Program: Mazurkas, Nocturne in E Minor, Op.72; Funeral March, Op.72 No.2; Sonata No.1 in C Minor, Op.4; Waltzes and Polonaises.
(Future concerts are planned in Beijing, Wuhan, and the United States, including performances on period Pleyel pianos from 1835 and 1845.)
About the Cycle
For Yuan Sheng, Chopin represents both a personal affinity and a profound artistic challenge. Known for his Bach scholarship and Beethoven cycles, Sheng approaches Chopin with a poetic sensibility, emphasizing melody, color, and intimacy.
Two distinctive features define The Complete Chopin:
- Historical Instruments – Sheng performs not only on modern concert grands, but also on period Pleyel pianos, recreating the sound world Chopin himself loved.
- Comprehensive Recording – All recitals will be recorded and released by Piano Classics, forming a complete recorded edition of Chopin’s works.
Highlights
- A six-year journey covering all of Chopin’s solo piano works in twelve concerts.
- Programs arranged chronologically, guiding audiences through Chopin’s creative life.
- Performances across China and internationally, with a unique focus on historical instruments.
- As Sheng reflects: “If Bach represents counterpoint and Beethoven represents logic, then Chopin is poetry in sound. His music is close to me, like family — always there, waiting to be rediscovered.”