Jiusi Zhang, finalist at the 6th NTD International Piano Competition, prepared a program on the theme of “death and transfiguration.”
He performed the Bach-Busoni Chaconne followed by Brahms Piano Sonata No. 2 on Tuesday.
“Traditionally, a chaconne was for either a happy, joyous occasion or a sad and solemn one. This one was from Bach’s Partita No. 2 for Violin, which Ferruccio Busoni arranged for solo piano. Actually, it wasn’t well received when he first wrote it, people felt Busoni didn’t do Bach justice,” Zhang said.
“But it withstood the test of time and proved otherwise, and it’s a widely performed piece now. It’s a very orchestral work, and feels to me like an old sage, imparting wisdom. It’s even, to me, like how in a moment of death your entire life flashes before your eyes,” he said….