Claire Huangci

Piano

contact

Xenia Groh-Hu

xh(at)karstenwitt.com

+49 30 214 594-224

Lisa Böttcher

lb(at)karstenwitt.com

+49 30 214 594-226

General Management

Dates

15.12. 20:00
Sakip Sabanci Müzesi "The Seed", Istanbul

Domenico Scarlatti, Four sonatas k443 208 29 435 for piano solo

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sonate Nr.14 c-Moll KV 457

Franz Liszt, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 13 S 244/13

Sergej Rachmaninow, Prelude Op. 3, No. 2

Sergej Rachmaninow, Preludes, Op. 23 (Excerpt)

Sergej Rachmaninow, 13 Préludes, Op. 32 (Excerpt)

Claire Huangci, piano

26.01. 19:30
Helena Civic Center, MT, USA

Camille Saint-Saens, Klavierkonzert Nr. 2 g-moll

Claire Huangci, piano

02.02. 19:30
Julie Rogers Theater, Beaumont, Texas

Edvard Grieg, Klavierkonzert a-Moll, op. 16

Claire Huangci, piano

Symphony of Southeast Texas

08.02. 19:30
Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, Zagreb

Ludwig van Beethoven, Klavierkonzert D-dur op. 61a (Transkr. des Violinkonzerts)

Claire Huangci, piano

10.02. 17:00
Werner-Borchers-Halle Erbach, Germany

Domenico Scarlatti, Sonatas for pianor K260, 13, 124, 125, 144, 454, 470, 282

Frédéric Chopin, Nocturne, Op. 27 No. 1

Frédéric Chopin, Nocturne, Op. 27 No. 2

Sergej Rachmaninow, Preludes, Op. 23 (Excerpt)

Sergej Rachmaninow, 13 Préludes, Op. 32 (Excerpt)

Frédéric Chopin, 24 Préludes op. 28

Claire Huangci, piano

17.02. 11:00
Holzhausenschlösschen, Frankfurt

Frédérik Chopin, Nocturne E flat major op.9, No.2

Frédéric Chopin, Nocturne, Op. 27 No. 1

Frédéric Chopin, Nocturne, Op. 27 No. 2

Frédéric Chopin, Nocturne op. 48 Nr. 1 c-Moll

Sergej Prokofjew, Suite “Romeo and Juliett", Op. 75, excerpts

Modest Mussorgski, Pictures at an Exhibition

Claire Huangci, piano

20.02. 20:00
Kulturforum Franziskanerkloster, Kempen

Domenico Scarlatti, Four sonatas k443 208 29 435 for piano solo

Frédérik Chopin, Nocturne C minor op.48, No.1

Frédérik Chopin, Nocturne in B major Op. 62, 1

Sergej Rachmaninow, Preludes, Op. 23 (Excerpt)

Sergej Rachmaninoff, Preludes op. 32, Nr. 4 e-Moll

Sergej Rachmaninoff, Preludes op. 32, Nr. 5 G-Dur

Sergej Rachmaninoff, Preludes op. 32, 6 in F minor

Frédéric Chopin, 24 Préludes op. 28

Claire Huangci, piano

biography

It is my intention to make music that stays in one’s memory not just because I had quick fingers but because it was so moving. Claire Huangci

Claire Huangci recently won the Concours Geza Anda 2018, where, in addition to 1st prize, she also received the Mozart Prize, supported by the Musikkollegium Winterthur.

Over the years, the young American pianist of Chinese descent has succeeded in establishing herself as a highly respected artist, captivating audiences with her “radiant virtuosity, artistic sensitivity, keen interactive sense and subtle auditory dramaturgy” (Salzburger Nachrichten). Claire Huangci began her international career at the age of nine with grants, concert performances and prizes, becoming the youngest participant to receive second prize at the International ARD Music Competition in 2011. Only in her later teenage years did she finally feel more and more that this instrument was to be her vocation. She received significant input from her teachers Eleanor Sokoloff and Gary Graffman at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia before studying under Arie Vardi at the University of Music, Drama and Media in Hanover. She has assisted Professor Vardi since spring 2016.

Chopin’s music gave Claire Huangci her artistic breakthrough when she won first prizes at the Chopin Competitions in Darmstadt in 2009, as well as in Miami in 2010. She has since proved her great versatility with an unusually broad repertoire, which includes a large number of contemporary works. Claire Huangci has performed in solo recitals and as a partner with international orchestras such as the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (under Sir Roger Norrington), Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich, Münchner Kammerorchester, China Philharmonic Orchestra and Vancouver, Santa Fe and Moscow Radio Symphonies at international concert venues that include the Carnegie Hall, Wiener Konzerthaus, Konzerthaus Berlin, Gasteig Munich, Gewandhaus Leipzig, la Salle Cortot, Oji Hall Tokyo and the Symphony Hall in Osaka. She has also made guest appearances at festivals such as the Kissinger Sommer, Verbier Festival, Menuhin Festival Gstaad, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Rheingau Musik Festival and the Schwetzinger SWR Festival. The highlight of the 2017/18 season was her recital debut at the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie; she will also went on major tours to China with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra under Cornelius Meister (performing Schubert and Kabalewsky) and to Sweden with the Nordlands Operan Symphony under Elim Chan.

She released her second solo album on the Berlin Classics label in 2015, following her debut CD of solo works by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. For this recording the pianist selected 39 of Domenico Scarlatti’s 555 sonatas, some of which are in Baroque suite form, and some of which look ahead to the classical sonata. In doing so, she illustrates Scarlatti's transition through music history. The recording was awarded the German Record Critics' Award and was selected as “Editor’s Choice” by Gramophone magazine. In spring 2017, she released a celebrated recording of Chopin’s Nocturnes, about which the Süddeutsche Zeitung commented: “Do we need another recording of Chopin’s Nocturnes? Not really! But when one hears this brand new double-CD from Claire Huangci, the answer is yes!” (Süddeutsche Zeitung)

2017/2018 season

This biography is to be reproduced without any changes, omissions or additions, unless expressly authorised by the artist management.

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Photos

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reviews

Claire Huangci´s fine and delicate virtuosity, well-rounded emotionality, and elegant shaping let these gems of the piano repertoire shine with a harmonious lightness. Rachmaninov is seldom played so empathically and lucidly.
BR Klassik Online, Michael Schmidt, 13/11/2018

She [Claire Huangci] mastered Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with a performance that was full of character and measured forcefulness, and won the competition.
Neue Züricher Zeitung, Christian Berzins, 17/6/2018

Her Mozart Concerto was captivating, a flawless performance with lively, sparkling runs, and an abundance of musical ideas.
SRF, Moritz Weber, 13/6/2018

A whirlwind at the keyboard with an immense enthusiasm for playing, the pianist has also developed a musicality and a colour-rich tone, which, along with her apparent technical ease, is merely a springboard for a wholly individual musical conception.
Rondo, Christoph Forsthoff, Februar 2018

In Claire Huangci’s playing, the flow of the music does not run away with itself or become arbitrary, but rather remains intensely alert: her attack is delicate yet distinct. (…) Claire Huangci follows the poetry of the cycle sensitively, taking care to differentiate the polyphonic voices. Irresistible yet always considerate and alert, Claire Huangci lets herself become captured by the magic of [Chopin’s] music.
PianoNews, Hans-Dieter Grünefeld, September 2017

She’s aware of the importance of Chopin’s Classical side and there are many instances where she favours restraint over cheap emoting, which is much to the good. There’s also a real range of interpretation, which makes the set consistently appealing. (…) One of the most impressive readings here is of the C minor Nocturne, Op 48 No 1, in which an innate solemnity grows to extraordinary depths in Huangci’s hands. (…). An impressive addition to the Chopin catalogue from a pianist from whom I’m sure we’ll be hearing much more.
Gramophone, Harriet Smith, July 2017, on the Chopin-CD

There are not too many complete recordings of Chopin’s Nocturnes – Claire Huangci’s offers a totally unique view and is absolutely worth a listen for her lyrical and serious attitude.
Radio Bremen, Wilfried Schäper, 29/5/2017 on the Chopin-CD

This is not a dreamy quasi-improvisation or playful salon music, and neither does the interpretation go after gut feeling. On the contrary, this is an extremely clear and pure recording with gravitas, significance and considerable appeal which certainly must be taken seriously.
Pizzicato, Remy Franck, 22/5/2017, on the Chopin-CD

It is more than simply worth a listen! (...) Throughout the consistent tranquility, she knows to distinguish between naturalness of expression on the one hand and emotive languorousness and passion on the other.
Rondo, Guido Fischer, 13/05/2017

Huangci plays Brahms’ Variations and Fugue on a theme by Handel op. 24 accurately, precisely, virtuosically, and from time to time shrewdly accentuated, with an expansive tone that is never applied too thickly.
Süddeutsche Zeitung, Andreas Pernpeintner, 9/4/2017

Do we need another recording of Chopin’s Nocturnes? Not really! But when one hears this brand new double-CD from Claire Huangci, which comes out on 5th May, the answer is yes!
Süddeutsche Zeitung, CD-Tipp, 6/4/2017

This concerto (Liszt's Piano Concerto No.2) sets a gauntlet of versatility, which Claire Huangci ran with apparent effortlessness. (…) Claire Huangci (…) is working on a piano sound for which she will become well known.
Neue Westfälische Paderborn, Ulla Meyer, 07/10/2016

With distinct accentuations and superior technique, Huangci confirmed her reputation as one of the most expressive Chopin interpreters of her generation.
Südkurier, Gerd Kurat, 04/08/2016

This is Scarlatti artistry of the highest order. (…) It’s gratifying to have followed Huangci’s progression from a 16-year-old prodigy to a 25-year-old artist poised for greatness.
Gramophone, Jed Distler, 17/08/2015

She certainly is brilliant but what is particularly impressive is the feeling of ease that she exudes while playing. Her subtle flair for dynamics, nuanced rhythms and intonation help her in Scarlatti’s playful baroque sonatas.
Süddeutsche Zeitung, Ekaterina Kel, 15/04/2015

Glistening virtuosity and creative authority. (…) She invited the audience to interact alertly with the piece because she did not thunder through it but offered subtle nuances and sensitive sound dramaturgy. The pianist drew on her stupendous technical skills for this energetic, brilliantly balanced playing, which had a sense for overview, logic and precise attention to detail: the ideal “picture” of a Tchaikovsky interpretation.
Salzburger Nachrichten, 10/11/2014

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Orchestral repertoire

J. S. Bach	Piano Concerto in D minor BWV 1052
C. Baker	From Noon to Starry Night, Concerto for Piano and Chamber
	Orchestra
B. Bartók	Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major Sz. 119, BB 127
L. v. Beethoven	Piano Concertos
	No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
	No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19
	No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
	No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
	No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 "Emperor Concerto"
	No. 6 in G major, Op. 61a
	Choral Fantasy in C minor, Op. 80
	Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56
L. Bernstein	Symphony No. 2 'The Age of Anxiety' for piano and orchestra
J. Brahms	Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83
F. Chopin	Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
	Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
C. Debussy	Fantasy für Piano and Orchestra
C. Franck	Symphonic Variations, M. 46
G. Gershwin	Rhapsody in Blue
	Piano Concerto in F major
E. Grieg	Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
J. Haydn	Piano Concerto in D major, Hob. XVIII: 2
	Piano Concerto in G major, Hob. XVIII: 4
F. Liszt	Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S. 124
	Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125
	Hungarian Fantasy in E major for piano and orchestra, S. 123
	Totentanz (Dance of death), S. 126
C. Meijering	ISIS Concerto for piano and orchestra
F. Mendelssohn	Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
	Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40
W. A. Mozart	Piano Concertos
	No. 9 in E-flat major, K.271 "Jeune homme"
	No. 13 in C major, K.415
	No. 17 in G major, K.453
	No. 18 in B-flat major, K.456
	No. 19 in F major K.459
	No. 20 in D minor, K.466
	No. 21 in C major, K.467
	No. 23 in A major, K.488
	No. 24 in C minor, K.491
	No. 26 in D major, K.537
	No. 27 B-flat major, K.595
	Rondo D major, K.382
F. Poulenc	Concerto for two pianos in D Minor, FP 61
S. Prokofiev	Piano Concertos
	No. 1 in D-flat major, Op. 10
	No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16
	No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
	No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 53 (for the left hand)
	No. 5 in G major, Op. 55
S. Rachmaninoff	Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1
	Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
	Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
	Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40
	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43
M. Ravel	Piano Concerto in G major
	Piano Concerto in D major (for the left hand)
A. N. Scriabin	Piano Concerto in F-sharp minor, Op. 20
C. Schumann	Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7
R. Schumann	Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
C. Saint-Saëns	Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22
	Rhapsodie d'Auvergne, Op. 73
D. Shostakovich	Piano Concerto No. 1 for piano, trumpet and string orchestra
	in C minor, Op. 35
	Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102
R. Strauss	Burleske in D minor
I. Stravinsky	Capriccio for piano and orchestra
P. Tschaikovsky	Piano Concerto No. 1 in B minor, Op. 23
	Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44
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recital programmes

Preludes

Debussy	Préludes Book 1
	L'Ilse Joyeuse
	or
Chopin	24 Préludes, Op. 28
	***
Rachmaninoff	Préludes, Op. 23 or Op. 32

Beethoven-Liszt-Schubert

Beethoven	Rondo a Capriccio in G major, Op. 129
Beethoven	Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
Liszt	Hungarian Rhapsody No. 13 in A minor
	***
Schubert	Piano Sonata A major, D 959 or Impromptus, Op.142

Nocturnes and Fantasies

Scarlatti	4 Sonatas (Selection)
Schubert	Wanderer Fantasy
	***
Chopin	Nocturne, Op. 27 No. 1
	Nocturne, Op. 27 No. 2
Schumann	Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 or Fantasy, Op. 17

Pictures at an exibition

Bach	Italian Concert F major BWV 971
Clementi	Sonata in B minor, Op. 40
Prokofieff	Romeo and Juliet (Selection)
	***
Mussorgski	Pictures at an Exhibition

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media centre

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discography

Rachmaninov Preludes

Claire Huangci
Berlin Classics, 0301075BC, 2018

A Chopin Diary

The Complete Nocturnes
Berlin Classics, 0300905BC, 2017

Claire Huangci · Domenico Scarlatti

Piano Sonatas
Berlin Classics, 885470006031, 2015

The Sleeping Beauty

Works by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Sergei Prokofiev
Berlin Classics, 885470005621, 2013

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Links

Website

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Magazine

Claire Huangci: in the studio with Rachmaninov

„I get very nervous when I am making records (...) when the stage is set for the final recording and I realise that this will remain for good, my hands get tense.“ No, this isn’t Claire Huangci, who recently recorded Sergei Rachmaninov’s complete piano preludes for Berlin Classics, but rather the Russian composer himself who admitted to nerves. One of the greatest pianists of his time, Rachmaninov made landmark recordings of both his own works and music by other composers, but always had a certain mistrust of sound recordings.Nearly a hundred years later, committing any works to disc still presents its own exciting challenges. This is especially true in the case of the preludes, which are not only technically difficult, but since many of the individual works are relatively unknown, the whole cycle has been rarely recorded in its entirety. Claire Huangci confirms this: “There are a couple of favourites which everybody knows, and everybody plays. These few preludes, which Rachmaninov recorded himself, overshadow the rest of the cycle. I find this a great pity – for me, there isn’t a single prelude that is a little sub-par. Every piece is simply so unique and a small masterpiece in its own right.”...