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A poster for Friday's concert. Courtesy of Shenzhen Concert Hall
This Friday evening, Sergei Babayan, a legendary pianist whose interpretations combine quiet beauty and emotional fire, will make his local debut at Shenzhen Concert Hall.
Celebrated for his solo recitals, chamber concerts, and concerto collaborations with orchestras around the globe, the Armenian-American pianist is also a prominent pedagogue and an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist with a dazzling discography.
Born into a musical family, Babayan began playing the piano in early childhood and went on to study at the Moscow Conservatory under Mikhail Pletnev. In 1989, Babayan rose to fame in the United States with first-prize victories at the Cleveland, Robert Casadesus, Palm Beach, Hamamatsu, and Scottish International Piano Competitions. Since then, he has captivated audiences worldwide; the moment his fingers touch the keys, the piano comes alive.
Sergei Babayan. Photo by Marco Borggreve
When performing classical works, his notes move with the precision of clockwork, perfectly capturing the discipline and grandeur of the genre. In romantic pieces, his passion surges forth like tides, leaving audiences deeply moved. The pianist is also known for his signature spontaneous pedal usage, creating shifts where uncertainty breathes vibrancy into the music.
Whether conveying fragility and strength in Chopin’s nocturnes, creating an almost hallucinatory soundscape in Scriabin’s works, or reimagining Beethoven’s sonatas with personalized phrasing and dynamic contrasts, Babayan offers a unique interpretation of every piece.
Beyond the well-known repertoire, he is also a champion of neglected masterpieces, often performing overlooked 20th-century works and contemporary compositions, broadening listeners’ horizons.
For Friday’s concert, Babayan will perform “Songs,” an imaginatively curated solo recital program exploring the evolution of lieder, folksong, and the art of melody. Combining solo pieces with piano transcriptions of songs by composers from Schubert, Schumann, and Rachmaninoff to Harold Arlen, Charles Trenet, and Armenian folk hero Komitas, the program features over 30 short pieces, promising a unique and unforgettable experience for local fans.
Highlights include Liszt’s transcriptions of Schubert’s “The Miller and the Brook,” Schumann’s “Widmung” (“Dedication”), and Arcadi Volodos’ arrangements of pieces from Rachmaninoff’s “12 Romances.” The audience will also hear Babayan’s own arrangement of Gabriel Fauré’s “Au Bord de l’eau” (“By the Water’s Edge”), a favorite among Chinese fans.
Tickets: 100-580 yuan
Time: 8 p.m., April 11
Time: 8 p.m., April 11
Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音乐厅)
Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D
