Violin & Piano Sonata Series

In 2015, violinist Siqing Lu and pianist Yuan Sheng joined forces at Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts for a two-part violin sonata cycle.

The first concert, Infatuated with France, celebrated the elegance and lyricism of the French tradition, moving from Debussy’s impressionistic colors to Saint-Saëns’ romantic sweep, culminating in Franck’s iconic A Major Sonata.

The second, Ode to Music of Deutschland, traced the German lineage of the violin sonata — Beethoven’s classical brilliance, Brahms’s poetic lyricism, and Richard Strauss’s youthful ardor.

Together, the pair offered audiences a Franco-German dialogue of musical traditions, showcasing not only two of the greatest national schools of violin-piano writing, but also the artistry and rapport between two of China’s most distinguished musicians.