Matinée des Jeunes Etoiles I

With two first prizes from prestigious competitions in tow – Geneva 2022 and Rubinstein 2023 – Kevin Chen steps onto the stage in Gstaad with a truly remarkable programme. The young Canadian, who occasionally reveals his talents as a composer as well, has opted for iconic works by Chopin and Liszt. So, on the agenda, we find the incredibly romantic Ballade No. 1 by Chopin and the poetic water games as found in Liszt’s Les jeux d’eau à la Villa d’Este (The fountains of the Villa d’Este). Following that, Schumann’s Sonata No. 3 takes the spotlight, often affectionately described as a “concert without an orchestra”. Sneaking into the Sonata is an “Andantino by Clara Wieck” – perhaps a loving wink?