Yi-Yang Chen’s ‘voices’ Interview Concert

St Symphorian’s Durrington Hill - Worthing BN13 2PU
2.45pm (doors 2.15, duration 2½ hours) finish 5.15pm
Seating unreserved – do arrive in good time to choose your seat. To prevent disruption, latecomers may have to wait for admission
https://www.seetickets.com/event/yi-yang-chen-s-voices-interview-concert/st-symphorian-s-durrington-hill/3378739
or on the door
£15 Adult / £13 Adult with Under-19(s) / £2 Under-19 / £5 Under-36 / £13 members of Worthing Philharmonic Orchestra, Worthing Symphony Society or Worthing Choral Society

Sips ’n’ Nibbles available pre-show and interval
Wheelchair access
Parking free on-site, Manor Parade shops precinct (3hrs) and surrounding streets (scroll down for venue description and info)


THE SOLO PIANO ‘VOICES’ YI-YANG BRINGS:
The music, not in concert performing order: one of Beethoven’s great titled sonatas, Chopin the poet of energy, Gershwin the suave songster, Rautavaara the heir of Sibelius, Yi-Yang’s own compositional reaction to the earthquake and tsunami tragedy across the sea from his native island outpost, and two living composers he’s working with.

Beethoven (German) - Piano Sonata No 21 in C Op53 ‘Waldstein’ (or ‘Aurora’ – The Dawn)
Chopin (Polish) - Scherzo No 3 in C# minor Op39 and Mazurkas Op17, No 1 in Bb, No 4 in A minor
George Gershwin, arr. Earl Wild (USA) - Etude No. 4 "Embraceable You”
Einojuhani Rautavaara (Finland) - Étude: Op. 42 No. 4, "Kvartit" . . . [Fourth] (1969)
Yi-Yang Chen (Taiwanese): In Memoriam: Japan, March 11 (2011) - I Twisting Paths, II Shrine Portrait
Ingrid Stölzel (German-American) - "In Fremden Ländern” [In Foreign Lands]
Gulli Björnsson (Iceland) - "Sjávarborð" [Ocean Surface]


YI-YANG SAYS
• “I want to show music lovers that not only can fireworks light up the stage, but so can the depth and expressiveness of the simple beauty of melodic lines.” . . .
• “I think there is no way to ‘rank the order’ of importance or expressiveness on all those genres Chopin composed. One short Mazurka is as expressive as his Sonata No.3.” . . .
• “The Waldstein. It’s such a crowd-pleaser, and I absolutely love this piece.” . . .
• “As much as I value ‘classics’ from the past, it’s important to increase awareness and understanding of what is happening right now. There are many composers around us.” . . .


OTHERS SAYING ABOUT HIM
• “He’s a powerhouse on the keys and gives off an aura of complete virtuosity.” – Isaac James, Gulf Theater (Sioux City, Iowa), himself a concert pianist.
• “A flair for the unusual and his technical and artistic capacity to deliver,” as well as his “musical and emotional intelligence, dexterity and virtuosity.” – Sussex World Newspapers
• “An impressive breadth of emotional investment and natural affinity for the music. The informed individuality and command of his performance was immediately compelling. He seems to 'own' the piano as he plays, and this makes his performance extremely powerful.” – Robin McCabe (Pacific Competition, Canada)
• “Passagework sparkling, energy never flagging, held the line and momentum throughout, a high-risk proposition demanding large technique – challenges many struggle with in this work but which he negotiated with the greatest of ease. A powerhouse performance of this work and among the best of its many I have heard” – New York Concert Review of Rachmaninov Sonata No 2 at Carnegie Weill Hall 2017


SAY HIS NAME “YEE-YOUNG TCHEN”
• International Steinway Artist
• Recorded a CD for Champs Hill Records, Coldwaltham UK, in December 2024
• Global concert giver, piano professor, coach and teacher
• Taiwanese, westernised in US the last 18 years
• Came through conservatoires: Eastman and Juilliard Schools, New York City
• Bachelor of Music, Doctorate of Piano and Music, Master of Music
• Won MTNA National Young Artist Piano Competition by Chopin Foundation (won a Steinway piano)
• Won Waring, Washington (US), Pacific (Canada), and Sussex International Piano Competitions (Worthing 2018, performing Debussy, de Falla, Alwyn, Haydn, Rachmaninov, Chen, Chopin; then Beethoven Piano Concerto No 4 in the Grand Final)
• Performed Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No 5 ‘Egyptian’ with Worthing Symphony Orchestra in 2019


WHAT’S AN INTERVIEW CONCERT?
It’s a full performance – plus conversations with a Guest Interviewer, meaning you meet the artiste, discovering their views and thoughts, not just musical ones.
It’s got its own optionally participatory features: ‘Ask A Question’ happens every concert but this time there’s also ‘Guess The Composer’ and ‘Give It A Title’.
Set In The Round means everyone’s closer to the action, connected – and inspired. Including the attentive children you can bring.

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ST SYMPHORIAN’S DURRINGTON HILL BN13 2PU
This time, we can’t be at @rtsspaces@sionschool for a fourth consecutive concert in those special conditions there. Instead, we’ll be sharing with you a truly special musical new International Interview Concerts venue. St Symphorian’s in Durrington Hill is a most appropriate Worthing venue for us to be in. It’s actually the most beautiful interior performing space we know in the town.

We can’t wait to welcome you there – perhaps even provide your first glimpse of St Symphorian’s itself. It’s a coloured wonder of stained glass windows and light, with a picturesque organ pipes display and a barn roof. Most striking of all is its separate chapel dedicated to the martyred musician, St Symphorian. One of its two main windows portrays he, surrounded by angel musicians; the other St Cecilia herself – the patron saint of music.

In some sense miraculously, there are no pillars to spoil any audience view of the concert action, nor pews to regiment, segregate or constrict your seating. Another new Interview Concert audience experience awaits you.

Also check out other Entertainment events in Worthing, Music events in Worthing, Concerts in Worthing.