Events » Classical Expressions 2026 » Jian Liu
Classical Expressions 2026 presents
Jian Liu
Thursday 18 June | 7.30pm
Artists
- Jian Liu | Piano
Programme
This programme explores how composers from different times and cultures paint their worlds in sound.
The journey begins with landscapes - Douglas Lilburn’s From the Port Hills and Huang Hu Wei’s Pictures from Bashu evoke distant hills and valleys, while Tan Dun’s Eight Memories in Watercolour and Salina Fisher’s Three Short Pieces capture nature’s fleeting beauty in shimmering sound. Gareth Farr’s Love Songs and Zhang Zhao’s Three Songs from the Mountains of Southern Yunnan give voice to love and longing, resonating with the poetry of life.
The second half turns to childhood and memory. Gillian Whitehead’s Lullaby for Matthew and He Luting’s Lullaby offer tender moments of repose, while Anthony Ritchie’s Caroline Bay Suite and Ding Shande’s Children’s Suite dance with the laughter of children at play. Finally, David Farquhar’s Sonatina and Wang Lisan’s Sonatina bring the programme to a spirited close, brimming with energy and joy.
- Douglas Lilburn | From the Port Hills
- Huang Hu Wei 黄虎威 | Pictures from Bashu (selections) 巴蜀之画 (选曲)
- Tan Dun 谭盾 | Eight Memories in Watercolour (selections) 八幅水彩画的回忆 (选曲)
- Salina Fisher | Three Short Pieces
- Gareth Farr | Love Songs
- Zhang Zhao 张朝 | Three Songs from the Mountains of Southern Yunnan 滇南山谣三首
- Gillian Whitehead | Lullaby for Matthew
- He Lu Ting 贺绿汀 | Lullaby 摇篮曲
- Anthony Ritchie | Caroline Bay Suite
- Ding Shan De 丁善德 | Children’s Suite: Happy Holidays (selections) 儿童组曲《快乐的节日》(选曲)
- David Farquhar | Sonatina
- Wang Li San 汪立三 | Sonatina 小奏鸣曲
Run Time
66 minutes of music, plus interval
About the Artist
As an internationally celebrated concert pianist, Dr. Jian Liu has performed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. His artistry has taken him to some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Steinway Hall in New York, Sprague Hall and Woolsey Hall of Yale University, and Paul Hall of Julliard School, and as a featured soloist with orchestras worldwide.
Jian Liu is currently the Deputy Head of School, Associate Professor, and Head of Piano Studies at New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington, where he has established his reputation as an outstanding pedagogue and overseen the development of the performance curriculum.
Supported by Chamber Music New Zealand