Thursday 25th July 2024
12.30 lunchtime
Kenny Fu
piano
Programme
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Piano Sonata in E minor, no 53 Hob XVI:34 L53 (c1777/8)
I Presto
II Adagio (G major)
III Vivace molto
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Humoreske in Bb major Op 20 (1839)
1 Einfach Simple (B♭ major)
2 Hastig Hastily (G minor)
3 Einfach und zart Simple and delicate (G minor)
4 Innig Heartfelt (B♭ major)
5 Sehr lebhaft Very lively (G-minor/B♭ major)
6 Mit einigem Pomp With some pomp
7 Zum Beschluss To the resolution (B♭ major) Allegro
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Piano Sonata No 2 in B♭ minor, Op 36 (1913, revd 1931)
1 Allegro agitato (B♭ minor)
2 Non allegro—Lento (E minor—E major)
3 Allegro molto (B♭ major)
Concert duration approx: 60 minutes
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Kenny Fu
From his early solo debut at the Wigmore Hall to his attainment of the prestigious Sir Elton John Scholarship, Kenny Fu holds much potential and promise for a bright future.
He has given concerts on three continents and has already performed extensively throughout UK's distinguished halls including St Martin-in-the-Fields, Kings Place, Worthing's Assembly Hall, St James's Sussex Gardens. He regularly appears in London, Oxford, Brighton and the South of England for more private concert engagements.
His repertoire choices gravitate toward the late Classical and Romantic Eras where he brings an intense and captivating temperament to the works of Beethoven, Brahms and Rachmaninov.
Recently, Kenny has been awarded First Prize at the Norah Sande International Awards, Second Prize in the Croatian Piano Loop Competition and Third prize at the Fifth Vigo International Piano Competition where Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire and Cyprien Katsaris were on the panel of judges.
During his earlier years, he was the winner of the Solihull Young Musician of the Year, Silver medalist at the Cyprus International Piano Competition, semi finalist at the Sussex International Piano competition and a quarter finalist at the BBC Young Musician of the Year.
He has received guidance from numerous esteemed musicians such as Dimitri Alexeev, Evgeny Sudbin, Natalia Trull, Pascal Devoyon, Richard Goode, Tim Horton, Imogen Cooper and Angela Hewitt during his studies at the Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music.
Kenny was born in Leamington Spa and is currently in the Advanced Diploma program at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Prof Tatiana Sarkissova and Ian Fountain. He is generously sponsored by the Countess of Munster Trust, Warwick Arts Fund, and Talent Unlimited.
He has given concerts on three continents and has already performed extensively throughout UK's distinguished halls including St Martin-in-the-Fields, Kings Place, Worthing's Assembly Hall, St James's Sussex Gardens. He regularly appears in London, Oxford, Brighton and the South of England for more private concert engagements.
His repertoire choices gravitate toward the late Classical and Romantic Eras where he brings an intense and captivating temperament to the works of Beethoven, Brahms and Rachmaninov.
Recently, Kenny has been awarded First Prize at the Norah Sande International Awards, Second Prize in the Croatian Piano Loop Competition and Third prize at the Fifth Vigo International Piano Competition where Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire and Cyprien Katsaris were on the panel of judges.
During his earlier years, he was the winner of the Solihull Young Musician of the Year, Silver medalist at the Cyprus International Piano Competition, semi finalist at the Sussex International Piano competition and a quarter finalist at the BBC Young Musician of the Year.
He has received guidance from numerous esteemed musicians such as Dimitri Alexeev, Evgeny Sudbin, Natalia Trull, Pascal Devoyon, Richard Goode, Tim Horton, Imogen Cooper and Angela Hewitt during his studies at the Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music.
Kenny was born in Leamington Spa and is currently in the Advanced Diploma program at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Prof Tatiana Sarkissova and Ian Fountain. He is generously sponsored by the Countess of Munster Trust, Warwick Arts Fund, and Talent Unlimited.
Recordings of the works in today's concert
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Piano Sonata in E minor, no 53 Hob XVI:34 L53 (c1777/8) [11mins]
I Presto
II Adagio (G major)
III Vivace molto
This recording comes from the 9th International competition for Young Pianists in memory of Vladimir Horowitz (2012) in Kyiv, Ukraine. Alexander Sinchuk of the Russian Federation won 1st prize and Gold medal in the Senior group.
These days, alongside substantial worldwide touring as a concert pianist, and giving masterclasses across Europe, Asia, and North America, Sinchuk is Professor of Piano at the University of the Arts Belgrade, Serbia.
Piano Sonata in E minor, no 53 Hob XVI:34 L53 (c1777/8) [11mins]
I Presto
II Adagio (G major)
III Vivace molto
This recording comes from the 9th International competition for Young Pianists in memory of Vladimir Horowitz (2012) in Kyiv, Ukraine. Alexander Sinchuk of the Russian Federation won 1st prize and Gold medal in the Senior group.
These days, alongside substantial worldwide touring as a concert pianist, and giving masterclasses across Europe, Asia, and North America, Sinchuk is Professor of Piano at the University of the Arts Belgrade, Serbia.
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Humoreske in Bb major Op 20 (1839) [27mins]
1 Einfach Simple (B♭ major)
2 Hastig Hastily (G minor)
3 Einfach und zart Simple and delicate (G minor)
4 Innig Heartfelt (B♭ major)
5 Sehr lebhaft Very lively (G-minor/B♭ major)
6 Mit einigem Pomp With some pomp
7 Zum Beschluss To the resolution (B♭ major) Allegro
From the Auer Hall of Bloomington's Indiana University comes this recording of hte Humoreske played by Mira Lee:
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
Piano Sonata No 2 in B♭ minor, Op 36 (1913, revd 1931) [18mins]
1 Allegro agitato (B♭ minor)
2 Non allegro—Lento (E minor—E major)
3 Allegro molto (B♭ major)
We have found a recording by one the world's greatest pianists - Vladimir Horowitz. You will notice an unusual style as he addresses the piano. The video makes him seem a very tall person (he was 5'9") with long legs, his knee just at the edge of the piano, and equally long arms, leading to flat fingers. Flat fingers! After all those years of being told to keep my fingers curved!
Horowitz had his own piano technician, and generally played on a specific Steinway with a very light touch - which could take other players by surprise. Here is a very readable article that talks more about this difference in playing style:
https://thepianobear.wordpress.com/2017/09/29/vladimir-horowitz-flat-fingers/
Meanwhile, please enjoy this historic 1982 performance from the Royal Festival Hall, London.
Previous concert
18 July 2024 - Aliara Duo: Gwenllian Llŷr, harp, and Sirius Chau, flute click here
Next concert
1 August 2024 - Concert for a Birthday, Piano à Deux, Linda Ang Stoodley & Robert Stoodley click here