Yixiang Hou
CHINA

Winner of the 2016 New England Conservatory Piano Concerto Competition, Chinese pianist Yixiang Hou has performed in China, Japan and the U.S. Yixiang has appeared as soloist with the Taiwan Sanchong Orchestra in He Luting Concert Hall and the Shanghai Conservatory Orchestra in Shanghai Concert Hall. In 2006, Yixiang made his debut recitals at the Shanghai Oriental Art Centre and Shanghai Conservatory Hall. Yixiang is also very active as a chamber musician, having performed chamber music concerts in Shanghai, Ningbo, Beijing and Boston.

Yixiang has been prize winner of various competitions. At only ten years of age, Yixiang became a prize winner of the 2004 Shanghai Haydn Piano Competition, and in 2009, Yixiang won the Wiesbaden Piano Competition in Shanghai. Yixiang has also received awards in the Tianjin “Flying Melody” Competition and the Steinway Competition of China in Beijing, both in 2009. As a student in Shanghai, Yixiang received the highest honors, including the Tang Scholarship.

Born in China, Yixiang moved to Shanghai at the age of eleven to study with pianists Dachun You and Ting Zhou at the Shanghai Conservatory. Following his studies in Shanghai, Yixiang moved to Boston in 2012, where he began his studies with Wha-Kyung Byun at New England Conservatory. Yixiang completed his Bachelor of Music degree at NEC, as a recipient of the Carol and Robert Henderson Presidential Scholarship. He is currently enrolled in NEC’s Master of Music degree program on a full tuition scholarship funded by the Saj-nicole A. Joni Endowed Scholarship Fund, in honor of Patricia Zander. Yixiang continues to study with Ms. Byun.

Program

RECITAL ROUND
Alexander Scriabin (1871-1915) Sonata No. 9, Op. 68, Black Mass

Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) Pavan in G Minor

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
I. Maestoso – Allegro con brio ed appassionato
II. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice cantabile

Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Carnaval, Op. 9

SCHUBERT ROUND
Franz Schubert (1797–1828) Sonata in G Major, D. 894
I. Molto moderato e cantabile
II. Andante
III. Minuetto. Allegro moderato – Trio
IV. Allegretto

CHAMBER MUSIC ROUND
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVI: 42
I. Andante con esperssione
II. Vivace assai

Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Transcendental Etude No. 10, S. 139/10

Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Transcendental Etude No. 12 “Chasse-neige”, S. 139/12

Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813-1888) Le festin d’Ésope, Op. 39 No. 12

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) Piano Trio No. 1 in D Major, Op. 70 No. 1
I. Allegro vivace e con brio
II. Largo assai ed espressivo
III. Presto

CONCERTO
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30
I. Allegro ma non tanto
II. Intermezzo. Adagio
III. Finale. Alla breve