TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese pianist Liu Meng-chieh (劉孟捷) will perform two special recitals at the National Taichung Theater, blending technical mastery with deep emotional expression and guiding audiences through music that transcends time.
Performing Friday and Sunday, Liu’s programs showcase his artistry and resilience, having returned to the piano after a rare illness interrupted his international career — a journey that, he says, transformed his understanding of music’s emotional power, according to the National Taichung Theater.
For the theater’s 10th anniversary, Liu has crafted two distinct programs. The first draws inspiration from the theater’s annual opera season, featuring nine piano transcriptions from seven beloved operas, according to a National Taichung Theater press release.
The second recital centers on the fugue, a complex form often associated with classical and Baroque music, known for its multi-voiced texture, strict structure, and intricate interplay between voices, according to M5. Liu explores its evolution from the Baroque to modern eras, creating a musical dialogue with the theater’s iconic architecture.
Friday's program opens with operatic fantasies. Selections span “Carmen,” “Tannhauser,” and additional classic works, each capturing the drama of a full stage from a single instrument.
Highlights include the Dances of the Blessed Spirits from “Orfeo ed Euridice,” a ternary-form piece with a soaring, expressive melody. Soiree de Vienne from “Die Fledermaus” brings the playful waltzes and charming humor of the Viennese operetta vividly to the piano, according to Feelmusic.
Sunday's program features works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Liszt, Paul Hindemith, and Samuel Barber.
Bach’s English Suite No. 6 in D minor, BWV 811, opens with a grand prelude alternating improvisatory flourishes with a rapid fugal Allegro. The suite flows through graceful dances and lyrical introspection, culminating in a whirlwind finale, according to the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Liu notes that the fugue is not limited to the Baroque period. Twentieth-century German composer Hindemith introduced significant harmonic innovations while continuing the tradition of composing fugues.
The program also includes Hindemith’s Piano Sonata No. 3 and Barber’s Piano Sonata. Through the fugue, Liu echoes the theater’s architectural beauty, offering audiences a unique listening experience.
Liu holds the distinction of being the first Asian and youngest piano faculty member at the Curtis Institute of Music in the US. He has mentored prominent musicians, including Lang Lang (郎朗), Tseng Yu-chien (曾宇謙), Wang Yuja (王羽佳), and this year’s International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition third prize winner Wang Zitong (王紫桐).
