Move over, Russia! China may have come late to the classical piano stakes but over the past five years her pianists have come to the fore, winning competitions all over the world. In a country where music is as competitive as sport, rising to the top of the game needs that extra mettle. Enter 28-year-old Sa Chen, regarded as one of China's top pianists, with contemporaries Lang Lang and Li Yundi.

In recent years she has won prizes in some of the most prestigious competitions, the latest being the third prize in the 2005 Van Cliburn. Her recent album, recorded "live" from that competition, featured a performance of the fiendishly difficult Gaspard de la Nuit by Ravel that impressed Singapore International Piano Festival director Chang Tou Liang so much he rated her more highly than even the first prize-winner.

Speaking to her while she was on tour in Colorado, I spoke to Sa Chen to find out more. An only child, she was born into a musical family. After a year-long affair with the violin she became uncontrollably drawn to the piano when she was seven. "I remember just wanting to play it. I just loved it", she laughs. Lessons promptly followed. She recalls fondly memories of playing piano with her father on the French horn when she was very young. He died tragically of cancer when she was barely eleven, leaving Chen and her mother, a former ballet dancer.

As her talent blossomed, Chen studied at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music and the Shenzhen School of Arts, working with Dan Zhaoyi. In 1994, still a teen, she won top prize in the China International Piano Competition, and two years later fourth place in the prestigious Leeds Piano Competition, earning a scholarship at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She now resides in Germany and frequently tours Japan, China and the major European cities.

Chen acknowledges the debt she owes to her heritage. "Chinese culture has given us a base, to start to understand different characters in music and to be receptive and sensitive to it”, she muses, ”There is a very strong sense of humanity in the Chinese.” Besides great pianists such as Schnabel, Gilels, and Annie Fischer, inspiration also comes from as diverse sources as violinist and recital partner Gideon Kremer as well as Sting and jazz, which she "adores".

Between her daily four-hour practice sessions and performances, Chen finds time to watch movies (albeit usually on DVD), and fine cuisine - she loves Italian, Turkish and Mexican food. Interestingly, she loves durian, citing its creamy texture and healthy properties, though she admits it smells terrible. Mum’s still "the greatest cook in the world", though, for this down-to-earth girl.

Any words of advice for budding concert pianists? "We should really learn music as we love music. Showing off one’s abilities is important, but it should not be the major purpose of learning an instrument. By learning it as you love it, you will also make purer music."

By Derek Lim

 

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