Published on: 2026-07-31
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
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Moscow, July 31 /Xinhua/ — “Master and Young Musicians. The International Musical Journey of Liu Shikun” — a concert with this title took place on Thursday in Moscow. In the Rachmaninoff Hall of the Moscow Conservatory named after P. I. Tchaikovsky, masterpieces of Chinese, Russian, and world classical music were performed by the world-renowned Chinese pianist Liu Shikun and his students, accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of Saint Petersburg.
After participating in the 1st International Tchaikovsky Competition back in 1958, where the then very young 19-year-old Lü Shikun won the 2nd prize, the maestro often visits Russia. He calls Moscow and Russia his second homeland, and the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied for three years, his alma mater.
In addition to his concert activities, Liu Shikun is known as an outstanding music teacher. “Today I brought my students—young musicians—to Russia. I really wanted them to visit places in Russia that are dear to me. I would like them to understand what truth in music means, love for art, and what high art means. This has always been present in Russia,” said the legendary Chinese pianist, who turned 87 this year, opening the concert.
The Rector of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Alexander Sokolov, called Liu Shikun’s performance in Moscow a historic event. He reminded that all laureates of the 1st Tchaikovsky Competition, which has since become one of the most prestigious contests in the world of academic music, represented their country and the Russian piano school. “Liu Shikun brilliantly represented both his country — China, and the Moscow Conservatory school. Liu Shikun calls the Moscow Conservatory his home, and that is indeed true,” emphasized the Rector.
The concert featured 12 students of Liu Shikun, the youngest of whom was not yet three years old. The program, compiled by the Chinese composer and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Zuo Zhenguan, included works of varying genres and characters: the bright and dramatic overture from Georges Bizet’s opera “Carmen,” the airy sonata by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the anxious prelude by Sergei Rachmaninoff, the lyrical adagio from Joaquín Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez,” the contemplative waltz by Claude Debussy… The performances of all the musicians were met with applause from the audience. But when Liu Shikun came to the piano and performed the famous “Ode to the Yellow River” by Xian Xinghai and the composition “My Motherland” by Liu Chi, the hall gave a true standing ovation.
Muscovite Elmara Faustova was filming the maestro’s performance on her mobile phone to preserve this special moment as a memory. This year she turned 85 and fondly recalls how attentively she followed the TV broadcasts of the 1st Tchaikovsky Competition and cheered for Lu Siqun. “His performance made a strong impression on me. It was precisely a Chinese performance, unusual, different from the European. He has a technique that you don’t feel, the sensation is that it is some completely natural life process,” she shared with a Xinhua correspondent her memories. According to her, the concert in Moscow is without exaggeration a historic event. “I am extremely happy to have heard the maestro’s playing at the concert. Words just fail me!” she added.
Another viewer, Moscow resident Lada Korotun, told the Xinhua correspondent that she often attends classical music concerts at the Moscow Conservatory, but this was the first time in her life she managed to listen to favorite pieces performed by Chinese musicians. “Everything impressed me: the power and at the same time the plasticity and lightness of the sound, the skill of very young performers, the joyful and cozy atmosphere in the hall. And the performance by master Liu Shikun is a truly unique opportunity to hear classical Chinese music in Russia!” she said, adding that Chinese culture has today become a pleasant and very interesting part of Moscow life, and the performance of Chinese classical musicians is another very beautiful element of Russian-Chinese friendship. –0–
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