Shuann Chai proves to be a master interpreter who puts her playing and the fortepiano one hundred percent in the service of Schubert and opens up new interpretative and sonic perspectives for us all. Highly recommended!
pizzicato
fun facts
Studied the viola as a secondary instrument and still has a soft spot for the sound of an open C string
Most picturesque concert hall she ever played in? Troldsalen in Bergen, Norway: the lakeside cottage where Grieg wrote much of his music is visible from the stage...
Loves studying languages and recently earned her A2 certificate in Japanese
Started piano lesson at age 5 at the local YWCA
As a child, she collected vintage postage stamps, shark teeth, and fossils
Alongside her piano studies, she graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in biology
She was born in Gainsville, Florida, (USA) where her dad was a NASA Scientist
Lives in The Hague,
the Netherlands
She grew up helping in her mom's Chinese restaurant and is still an avid cook of all cuisines
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bio at a glance
and Hidemi Suzuki, cello
Recent Performances
De Doelen Rotterdam • Stadsgehoorzaal Leiden • Orlando Festival (NL) • Utrecht Early Music Festival • Suntory Hall Blue Rose (Tokyo) • Izumi Hall (Osaka) • Fukinoto Hall (Sapporo) • Ferdinandeum Museum (Innsbruck) • National Concert Hall of Taipei • Les Musicales de Normandie (France) • Gloppen Musikkfest (Norway)
Hidemi Suzuki (cello) • Shunske Sato (violin) • Steuart Pincombe (cello) • Mattijs van de Woerd (baritone) • Noa Frenkel (alto) • the Dudok String Quartet
Temple University • University of California at Davis • CodArts Rotterdam • Conservatorium of Amsterdam • Conservatorium of Maastricht • Gulanyu Piano Academy of Xiamen (China) • Central Conservatory of Beijing
Shuann curated her own fortepiano Festival in Zaandijk
Shuann is Professor of piano at Codarts Rotterdam
Music & more
Pre-recorded piano performance for the character of Mozart, coached actors in onstage piano-playing
Modern dance, music of John Cage
Modern dance, music of Prokofiev, and life-size puppet by Duda Paiva
The complete Beethoven Sonatas performed with excerpts from his letters and some of his songs
Allowing her playing to speak for itself, Chai took to the stage in a truly humble yet fresh way. Her touch on the keys gave an impression not only of clear artistic ownership of the repertoire but also a sensitive grasp on the resonance of the strings in the instrument.
Bachtrack
copy by Philip Belt
on loan from the NMF
Calendar
Shunske Sato, violin
Shuann Chai, piano
Shunske Sato, violin
Shuann Chai, piano
Shunske Sato, violin
Shuann Chai, piano
Shunske Sato, violin
Shuann Chai, piano
Masterclasses and Concerts at Conservatorium Maastricht
Masterclasses and Concerts at Conservatorium Maastricht
Masterclasses and Concerts at Conservatorium Maastricht
Masterclasses and Concerts at Conservatorium Maastricht
Shunske Sato, violin
Shuann Chai, piano
Shunske Sato, violin
Shuann Chai, piano
Shunske Sato, violin
Shuann Chai, piano
Stimulating... Chai has a keen sense for the colouristic possibilities of her instrument
BBC Music Magazine
albums
Scent of Pink
song cycle by René Samson with alto Noa Frenkel
Concertzender live recording (2019)
Contact
artist manager
