Concert Pianist

Saturday, 26 September 2009

Next Concert

Concert Pianist Di Xiao will perform with the Sinfonia of Birmingham for Sutton Philharmonic Society in Sutton Coldfield Town Hall at 19:30 on 28 September 2009.

Wednesday, 2 September 2009

Help for Heroes

Di Xiao raised over £1500 for Help for Heroes during her recent charity recital!

Wednesday, 26 August 2009

New Concert

Acclaimed Chinese pianist Di Xiao performs 2 movements from one of the staple works of Tchaikovsky's piano repertoire: The Seasons, Op.37b. Tchaikovsky completed this 12-part set of character pieces in 1876, not long before his ill-fated marriage to one of his composition students. Di Xiao also performs music by Frederic Chopin, Franz Schubert and Maurice Ravel.
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich (1840-1893), Les Saisons (The Seasons) for piano, Op.37b
Schubert, Franz (1797-1828), Impromptu in E flat major, D.899
Schubert, Franz (1797-1828), Impromptu in G flat major, D.899
Chopin, Fryderyk Franciszek (1810-1849), Ballade no. 4 in F minor, Op.52
Ravel, Maurice (1875-1937), Oiseaux tristes
Ravel, Maurice (1875-1937), Alborada del gracioso Di Xiao, Piano Price type: Free

Saturday, 8 August 2009

New Portfolio

Di Xiao and her entourage of 8 stylists and photographers have completed the location shoot and are moving to the studio.

See results at Concert Pianist Di Xiao soon!

Concert Pianist Di Xiao

Chinese pianist Di Xiao began her musical studies at the age of four, subsequently studying at Guangzhou Conservatory, the Odessa Conservatoire, under the eminent Professors A. M. Bougaevski and G. V. Popova, and later at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing under Professor QiFang Li. She graduated from Beijing with one of the highest marks in the history of the Conservatory. Later she was awarded a full scholarship by Birmingham Conservatoire which enabled her to travel to England to continue her studies under Professors Mark Racz, now of The Royal Academy, and Malcolm Wilson.

She has played at many of the worlds most prestigious concert halls and has recently released her first CD. Di Xiao is currently representing the UK on the ECHO Rising Star series of concerts in Europe.

Biography

Di Xiao won numerous prizes and competitions at an early age, among them first prize in the Luo Shi Trophy Competition in 1990 and Most Outstanding Young Musician of Guangdong Province Award in 1996. She has been invited to perform as a soloist in many countries including China, Malaysia, Ukraine and the UK. In 1997 she played Chengzong Yin’s Yellow River Piano Concerto in Kuala Lumpur and Penang for the Malaysian Royal Family, which drew much praise from the press and critics. In her native country, she has appeared the Beijing Concert Hall and a number of other important venues across the country.

In the UK Di Xiao has performed at a number of prestigious venues and events including Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham Town Hall, Warwick Arts Centre, the Buxton Arts Festival, Stratford Music Festival, and Leamington Music Festival. Di Xiao’s concert performances have received much acclaim in the UK. Her debut at Symphony Hall Birmingham in January 2006 was described by the UK Chinese Times as “A stunning concert!” and an early performance of the Schumann Concerto prompted The Birmingham Post to describe her as “a pianist of awesome gifts …her imperious opening flourish announced a capacity for full, rich chording. But there was also flowing, rippling figuration as she revealed her instinctive grasp of this wonderful work. In her graceful, dancing finale it was easy to imagine Clara Schumann at the keyboard, Di Xiao’s profile and demeanour uncannily close to those of the great lady herself.”

In July 2007 she took first prize at the Brant International Piano Competition which led to her selection for the Rising Star series 08/09. During this tour she has performed solo recitals at prestigious venues including Athens Megaron, Hamburg Laeiszhalle and Luxembourg Philharmonie where the packed hall applauded so enthusiastically, Ms Xiao found it hard to escape the stage. Her recitals at Hamburg and Luxembourg were recorded and continue to delight audiences through the media of radio. In 2009 the tour will take her to Barcelona, Brussels, Amsterdam, Vienna, Saltsburg, Stockholm and Cologne.

Di Xiao’s truly inspiring performances stem from her equal mastery of technique, artistry and temperament. She forms a strong bond with audiences everywhere and exudes a special quality and integrity in her music making. However, she continues her quest for perfection and strives continually for self improvement. In June 2006, she had the honour of a personal master-class with Alfred Brendel on Beethoven’s E major Sonata Op. 109, during which he commented on her “very clear mind and excellent fingers!”

Her repertoire reflects a broad spectrum of interests with a wide range of musical styles ranging from the works of Beethoven and Mozart to Ravel and Messiaen. She has a keen interest in Chinese classical folk music and in contemporary piano works by the new generation of Chinese composers. She seeks tirelessly for new and innovative ways to bring these works to a wider audience. Di Xiao aspires to be an international ambassador for the piano, combining both Chinese and Western repertoire in the programming of her concerts, thereby creating a bridge between two cultures.

Concert Pianist

Saturday, 26 September 2009

Next Concert

Wednesday, 2 September 2009

Help for Heroes

Wednesday, 26 August 2009

New Concert

Saturday, 8 August 2009

New Portfolio

Concert Pianist Di Xiao

Concert Pianist Di Xiao

Reviews

Biography

Concert Pianist Di Xiao

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