Chinese Pianist Wows Audience at New York’s Lincoln Center

Last weekend, Beijing-born pianist Tian Jiaxin performed at New York’s Lincoln Center. Although Tian is just 25, this is the second time she has performed at the world-famous New York concert venue.

The program of the concert is the epitome of East meets West. Mozart and Chopin sit alongside Chinese elements, including “Silver Cloud in a Moon Night” and the three preludes by Chinese composer Zhang Shuai.

“She has technique and she also has musicality. She also was very much lyrical. And that’s important not just playing the piano, playing the note. It’s the music,” an audience said.

“It was so beautiful. The encore. That piece, there’s a lot of emotions there. And she plays it so sensitively. Everytime she plays that part, I feel that she owns that part of music in her heart in her life. It’s her life story to play that piece,” another audience said.

Born into a family of professional musicians in Beijing, Tian began playing the piano at the age of three and gradually her musical talent has seen her rise to fame.

This is not her first appearance at the Lincoln Center. Her debut concert here back in March 2013 won much critical acclaim, and Tian says that to perform on this stage for a second time means a lot to her.

“I’m really honoured and extremely proud to perform at the Lincoln Center, to show what young pianists in China are like,” Tian said. “And I hope that my music will get through to the audience.

“Also, I’d like to wish everyone a happy Lunar New Year, for the Year of the Horse,” she added.

Tian’s concert is also part of Spring Festival celebrations overseas, organized by the Overseas Chinese Affairs office of China’s State Council.