The five-star Chinese pianist we’ve never heard of
mainShe’s a legend in France, with a best-selling biography and packed recitals – whenever she cares to give them. But outside France, where she has lived for 30 years, Zhu Xiao-Mei is a shadowy, enigmatic figure, seldom heard and recognised by very few.
Zhu Xiao-Mei only plays the summits of the western repertoire. Her performance of Bach’s Art of the Fugue, newly out on Accentus, exists philosophically in a world of its own. It is my five-star Album of the Week on sinfinimusic.com. Click here.
We understand that she is planning a return to China in the coming season, the first since she left in 1980.
many thanks Norman–you are superb!
Excellent recordings of Goldberg Variations, Wohltemperiertes Klavier et al. – and her book “The Secret Piano” (as audiobook) are available on iTunes.
Yes, her Goldberg is on Youtube, very worth listening to, one of the greats.
Speak for yourself! I’ve heard of her, she’s part of that famous gang of Chinese artists and intellectuals who’ve chosen the French Republic over the People’s Republic.
Her Well-Tempered Klav and recordings of Mozart are on Mirare and have been available in the UK for some time, fab stuff! Good on you to give her more attention though.