‘Tan Dun’s piano music forms an intimate reflection not only of the broad range and history of his composing, but also of the journey of his artistic soul, of his musical and philosophical discoveries, and of his personal memories.
The variety of the many international awards he has received is a reflection of the striking versatility of his works and of the worldwide recognition he has gained as a powerful artistic representative of intercultural exchanges.’
– Ralph van Raat
Tan DUN (b. 1957)
Eight Memories in Watercolor
C-A-G-E- (In Memory of John Cage)
Film Music Sonata • Traces
The Fire • Blue Orchid
Ralph van Raat, PianoTan Dun’s originality has been reflected in worldwide recognition of his music, which draws on both Chinese and Western musical languages. The Eight Memories in Watercolor are deft painterly reflections, while in Traces he balances sound with silence in this evocation of nature. The vibrant drama of Blue Orchid incorporates the opening motif of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. In Film Music Sonata, which here receives its first recording on general release, Tan Dun draws on his score for the film The Banquet. The kaleidoscopic C-A-G-E-, strikingly Chinese in sound, is a tribute to his teacher and spiritual compass, John Cage. The Fire, written for Ralph van Raat, contains some of Tan Dun’s most virtuosic and dramatic piano writing.
II. After Tonight
Ralph van Raat is the recipient of a substantial number of national and international awards; many composers have written solo works for him; and he has performed over 50 piano concertos with orchestras worldwide, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded over 30 albums and is a frequent speaker and performer on radio and television. He teaches at both the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the Accademia di Musica di Pinerolo, Turin.
The conceptual and multifaceted composer/conductor Tan Dun has made an indelible mark on the world’s music scene with creative repertoire that spans the boundaries of classical music, multimedia performance, and eastern and western traditions. He is a recipient of some of today’s most prestigious honours, including the GRAMMY Award, Academy Award, Grawemeyer Award for classical composition, Musical America’s Composer of The Year, Shostakovich Award and the Bach Prize of Hamburg.
– International Piano
– Gramophone
– AllMusic.com ★★★★
– MusicWeb International
Workman • Castle • Richardson • Lundy • Jun • Kross • Bryant • Netherlands Chamber Orchestra • Capella Amsterdam • Dun • Audi
– Opera News
OABD7029D
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra • Dun • Cossin
– MusicWeb International
Symphonic Poem on Three Notes
Orchestral Theatre
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra • Dun
– ClassicalCDReview.com
Death and Fire
Orchestral Theatre II: Re
Lin • Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra • Tang