"Passionate, articulate, deeply expressive, and wholly musical ..." The accolades keep pouring in for pianist Jian Liu who will perform in Whangarei next weekend.
Jian Liu presents a special programme that celebrates the greats of the piano, with two pieces each from Beethoven, Brahms and Chopin.
In each case the works include the first piano piece they wrote and also their last work for piano, in some instances the first and last composition the composer wrote.
This programme is dedicated to the memory of New Zealand composer Jack Body, featuring two short works, the first by John Psathas, the second a last piano work from Jack Body that evokes the street where he lived for 35 years.
Jian Liu served for four years on the faculty of the Yale Department of Music, and is currently the programme leader of classical performance and head of piano studies at New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington.