The Carmel Sunset Center features George Li
Carmel Music Society presents pianist George Li in a program of works by Schumann, Ravel and Stravinsky on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Carmel's Sunset Center. A young American virtuoso, Li was the Silver Medalist of the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition. He also won the 2016 Avery Fisher Career Grant. He has rapidly established a major international reputation and appears regularly with preeminent orchestras and conductors such as Gergiev, Dudamel, Honeck, Petrenko, Tilson Thomas and Long Yu.
The Washington Post has praised Li for “staggering technical prowess, a sense of command and depth of expression.” He has been described as having a performance style that reflects his international outlook and his understanding of the role that classical music plays in different cultures.
The son of Chinese immigrants, he first played in public at age 9. Now he performs at Carnegie Hall, has appeared the White House and with the great orchestras around the world, including the nearby San Francisco Symphony and L.A. Philharmonic.
As a student at Harvard, he undertook the study of English literature to broaden his education. He found the subject challenging, he said, but it helped him become a better person and a better artist.
In an interview for the Harvard Gazette, he said, “Literature helps me understand music. … What struck me the most was how similar these writers were, inspired by nature or any random moment that was seemingly insignificant, but they made such a personal connection to it. They were able to convey such great emotions and that's what I'm trying to achieve. To feel the personal connection between myself and the music and be inspired.”
The Carmel audience will hear him play “Arabeske in C Major” and “Davidsbündlertänze” by Schumann, Ravel's “Valses nobles et sentimentales” and Stravinsky's “Trois mouvements de Petrouchka.”
Li's concert promises to be a special event this month.
For tickets and information see www.carmelmusic.org or call 625-9938.