Fantasy

This concert features "fantasy" compositions, music representing the free spirit and limitless imagination of the composer, in works from the Baroque to the Modern era.

Performers

Weiwei Zhai, piano

Program

Beethoven Op. 27 No. 1 in E-flat Major “Sonata una quasi fantasia”

Andante - Allegro - Andante

Allegro molto e vivace

Adagio con espressione

Allegro vivace

Bach Chromatic Fantasia in D Minor BWV 903

Chopin Fantasia Op. 49 in F Minor

David Del Tredici Fantasy Pieces

Adagio, espressivo

Poco allegretto

Allegro minacciando

Largo, senza tempo

Brahms Selection from 7 Fantasies Op. 116

Capriccio

Intermezzo

Capriccio

Pianist Weiwei Zhai has performed throughout Asia, North America, and Europe as a soloist and chamber musician. Critics have praised her “enthusiasm and grace” and described her performance as “absolutely gorgeous throughout as to sonority and especially style” (New York Concert Review). Weiwei has played concerts at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, the Harvard Club of New York City, Steinway Hall, Trinity Church Wall Street, Yamaha Artist Service, and the Beijing National Library Performing Arts Center. As the first-prize winner of the Concerto Competition at Manhattan School of Music (MSM), she performed the Scriabin Piano Concerto with conductor Philippe Entremont. In addition, she has played with celebrated conductor Christian Vásquez in Italy. Ms. Zhai won top prizes in the Kazakhstan International Piano Competition, and the Five Towns Young Musicians Competition in New York.

An avid chamber musician, Ms. Zhai has collaborated with members of the Grammy-nominated quintet, Imani Winds. She has appeared at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the PianoTexas International Festival and Academy, and the InterHarmony International Music Festival. Weiwei is also very involved with charity work, working with Catholic Relief Services, one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world, and the United Nations Refugee Agency, she gave recitals and helped raise considerable funds to provide aid to the people in need.

Born in Chengdu, China, Weiwei began to take piano lessons at an early age. She won top prizes in major national competitions and graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where she studied with Manchun Chen. She moved to New York to study at Manhattan School of Music, where she received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, studying with Dr. Solomon Mikowsky and Dr. Inesa Sinkevych. Ms. Zhai is a member of the piano faculty at Bloomingdale School of Music.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Bloomingdale School of Music, 323 W 108th Street, New York, United States