Violinist Shuxiang Yang will be performing a recital with pianist Azariah Tan on Saturday, 21 August 2021 at the Esplanade Recital Studio as part of “Die dunkelrosa Rose”, presented by Kris Foundation.
How did you meet Azariah and is this your first time working together?
I’ve known of Azariah for such a long time already! Have seen him around at musical events, but interestingly, have never actually played or had a serious conversation with him! This is actually really surprising given how tight-knit our Singaporean music community is! So I’m extra excited about this chance to really get to know Azariah—both musically and personally!
Does the programme represent your personality? Tell us about the curation.
Our duo programme came together rather organically. I guess we both wanted to explore the Strauss sonata, and that was the seed that gave rise to the Hindemith and Schubert! The Hindemith in particular was a happy discovery—I did not know any of his violin works, but chanced upon it in a late-night google session! It matches the tonality and historical context of the Strauss perfectly, while at the same time, providing a completely different sound world!
What is the most memorable moment of your career so far?
Wow! Tough question… So many moments. I guess the one that started it all was the Bruch Concerto I performed at the Esplanade Concert Hall with the Raffles Institution String Ensemble back in 2004. That was the turning point in my life that made me sure that I wanted to drop everything and pursue a career in music!
Has your life changed since COVID-19?
For one—I relocated back to Singapore from Boston in a snap. The decision was made and executed within two days! I must say that I’m super glad to be back with my supportive family during these difficult times. And of course, being back here has allowed me to reconnect with Kris, giving rise to this wonderful opportunity! Thank you Kris!
Are you involved in any interesting projects this year?
I just performed at the Singapore International Festival of Arts—it’s amazing to see SIFA turning inwards to highlight our very own herd of local artists this year. In a remarkable turn of events, I’ve also just picked up a new administrative hat—managing the 2022 Singapore International Violin Competition! I think all these exciting opportunities add up to show that Singapore’s music scene is really blooming!