Lu Yao, piano virtuoso, to perform with the Chamber Music Society of Colombo

The Chamber Music Society of Colombo’s December 18 con-cert at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, is a Piano recital by the young Chinese-born Lu Yao. An award-winning graduate of the élite Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, Lu Yao is currently a member of its piano faculty.

In 2006, Lu Yao was awarded first place in the Professional group at the 11th “Xing Hai” National Children’s Piano Competition. He achieved the top prize at the Beethoven Music Festival and National Youth Piano Competition in 2007. In 2011, with high recommendations, he enrolled at the Central Conservatory of Music without an audition, where he studied under Professor Wu Ying. In 2012, Lu Yao was awarded the second prize at the 1st Yamaha China Piano Competition and in 2013 he won the top prize at the 9th Chinese Golden Bell Award for Piano. That same year, Lu Yao was awarded titles of Excellent Creative Talent of

The Central Conservatory of Music and Elite Practice Support Plan of Hanneng.

The programme on the 18th will include: Chopin’s FantaisieImpromptu, in C-sharp minor, Op. posth 66, SaintSaëns/Liszt/ Horowitz

‘Danse Macabre’, Mozart’s Twelve Variations on‘Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman’,

Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op.57 ‘Appassionata, Zhang Zhao’s ‘Pi-Huang', Debussy’s Deux Arabesques, L. 66, Chopin’s Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante in E-flat major, Op. 22 and CamilleSaint-Saëns’ Septet for trumpet, two violins, viola, cello, contrabass & piano in E-flat major, Op. 65. Performing the septet, Lu Yao will be joined by Lakshman Jo-seph-de Saram, violin I. Sulara Nanayakkara, violin II. Othman H Majid, viola, Ruben Jeyasundaram, cello. Nilanthi Weera-koon, bass and Naveen Fernando, trumpet, all principal players of the CMSC.

In addition to the recital on the 18th, The Chamber Music Society of Colombo’s Education Fund in association with the GoetheInstitut presents a Piano master-class/workshop by Lu Yao on December 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Goethe-Institut Hall, 39 Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7. The master-class is for pre-selected advanced students and young professional pianists. Piano teachers are also welcome. It is free of charge to both active participants and observers.

Lu Yao’s visit to Sri Lanka is made possible by a generous arts grant by the Embassy of China in Colombo to the CMSC. Tickets for the December 18 concert are available at the Lionel Wendt Box Office.