Dear friends of PPI,
It’s November, the leaves have turned spectacularly and all of us lovers-of-the-indoors can finally craft, cook, read and attend concerts without feeling any of the (very real) “Sunshine Guilt” caused by blue skies in Portland. It’s also the peak of concert season and with two stunning recitals behind us, the PPI team is riding a wave of creative momentum, thanks to our extraordinary artists and remarkable patrons. You really know how to energize us! Thank you for your rhapsodic reception of Jan Lisiecki this past Sunday: Wasn’t he something?! His recital felt like an electric night of dancing, and brought to mind this evocative quote by Richard Powers: “The use of music is to remind us how short a time we have a body.”
We know that holiday plans pick up pace exponentially around Thanksgiving, which gives us all the more reason to help you schedule destressing and nervous system regulation. On Sunday, December 6th, Chinese-American Ying Li promises an afternoon of imaginative world-building and sparkling virtuosity … just the antidote to overbearing family members, holiday shopping lists and menu-planning. (If the name “Ying Li” rings a bell, it’s because she made a heroic appearance with the Symphony in January, in a no-rehearsal performance of the Grieg concerto that had critics and audiences enraptured.) Her solo program for PPI celebrates the art of musical storytelling, whether through beloved operatic transcriptions or intimate tone poems. With works ranging from the haunting Bach-Busoni Chaconne in D Minor to lesser-known gems such as Amy Beach’s “Four Sketches” and Qigang Chen’s Instants d’un opéra de Pékin (Moments from a Peking opera), you’ll find respite and revival in Lincoln Hall!
Need to convince a friend to join you or unsure about the program? Listen to the YouTube playlist to familiarize yourself with the music and get even more excited about the opportunity to hear it live, among like-minded piano lovers!