Canadian pianist Tong Wang performs Chopin, Scriabin, Stravinsky, and Ho. Works from "The Firebird" to "A Manic Ride Through Lollipop Hell".
Program
Chopin - Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35
I. Grave - Doppio movimento
II. Scherzo
III. Marche funèbre
IV. Finale. Presto
*Alice Ho - A Manic Ride Through Lollipop Hell
I. The Labyrinth
II. A Sad Lullaby
III. The Great Escape
-intermission
Scriabin - Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 6
I. Allegro con fuoco
II.
III. Presto
IV. Funebre
Stravinsky/Agosti - Firebird
I. Inferno Danse
II. Berceuse
III. Finale
*“This solo piano work is based on the story of my one act horror-anime-opera “Labyrinth of Tears”, a project in development with the talented Montreal based writer/pianist Tong Wang. It tells the adventure and friendship between five wizardry schoolgirls from an imaginary Academy of Magical Arts. Four girls journey into the inner world of their friend who suffered from eating disorder, and attempt to rescue her from a mysterious coma through combating dangers and solving puzzles in the “Labyrinth”. This adventure is captured in three movements of contrasting characters: “The Labyrinth”, “A Sad Lullaby”, and “The Great Escape”. The piano writing fuses genre of “pop” and classical” styles, and demands great technical virtuosity. The dramatic use of colors, extreme dynamics and registers create an intense musical expressions throughout, one can imagine the terrifying inner psyche and an escapade that pretty much depict “A Manic Ride through Lollipop Hell”. This work is commissioned and written especially for the brilliant pianist/writer Tong Wang, through the support of Toronto Arts Council.”
-Alice Ping Yee Ho
Tong Wang
Concert Pianist https://tong-wang.com
Co-founder and Artistic Director of Windwood Music Festival https://windwoodfestival.com
Pianist of Duo Perdendosi https://duoperdendosi.com
Biography
Tong Wang (tong-wang.com) is a Canadian pianist recognized for her innovative contributions to performance, research, and community engagement. Her work investigates the intersection of art with identity, culture, and contemporary issues. Tong’s performance highlights include collaborations with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, and ensembles throughout North America and Europe. A versatile artist, she has spearheaded the creation of a new horror anime opera “Labyrinth of Tears” alongside research into the aesthetics of "cuteness" in music, supported by the Canada Council, FRQSC, and SSHRC doctoral grants. Tong’s recent projects have explored multiculturalism, diaspora identity, and climate issues, including her solo tour “我们Us” in Lunenburg, Montreal, Basel, Verbier, and her tour with Duo Perdendosi, “Homecoming”, “Wanting to Start Again”, and “Dark Tales” across Canada, US, and eastern Europe. In 2022, she co-founded the Windwood Music Festival in Airdrie, Alberta to bring classical chamber music to rural communities. In the upcoming seasons, Tong will be touring her solo recital “Towards the Flame” with Debut Atlantic, as well as the new Canada Council commissioned work by Alice Ho, “Four Impressions of China” with the Dietz-Wang duo. Tong is a graduate of the New England Conservatory and the Schulich School of Music. She continues to embark on solo and chamber tours across North America, Europe, and Asia, showcasing her dedication to fostering global connections through art.
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