“Fu’s approach is intelligent but fuelled by a deep emotion and understanding of the repertoire” writes BBC Music Magazine of this striking young American pianist. “It’s all rather breathtaking”. But judge for yourself, as Fu brings a whole evening of his deeply individual artistry to the elegant surroundings of St Martin-in-the Fields. True to form, he’s exploring new music by voices as diverse as Timo Andres and Freya Waley-Cohen. But he’s also performing his beloved French music, from the ravishing poetic visions of Debussy to the dark, flashing brilliance of Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit. Expect to be enchanted.

Programme
Timo Andres – Clear and Cold 
Freya Waley-Cohen – For Simon 
Maurice Ravel – Miroirs 
Debussy – Etudes and Preludes (selection)
Ravel – Gaspard de la nuit

Performer
George Fu Piano

Chinese-American pianist George Xiaoyuan Fu is establishing an international reputation as “one of the most exciting pianists of our time… a deep thinker, thoroughly in command” (The Arts Desk). George has appeared in prestigious venues and with orchestras across the Americas and Europe, and his performances and interviews have been featured on broadcasts around the world, ranging from BBC Radio 3 and National Public Radio, to appearances on PBS/American Public Television and On Stage At Curtis in Philadelphia. A keen chamber musician and collaborator who is equally at home in both the canonical and contemporary repertoire, he is a founding member of Trio Zimbalist, and he enjoys frequent collaborations with a variety of musicians, ensembles and composers, as well as being a composer himself.

George made his concerto debut as a 17-year-old with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. After earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University, George studied with Jonathan Biss and Meng-Chieh Liu at the Curtis Institute of Music, and then with Christopher Elton and Joanna MacGregor at the Royal Academy of Music. He has also worked intensively with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on the music of Messiaen and Debussy. He is a 2020 City Music Foundation Artist.