In his new album 'Movements,' George Li highlights both the structure and dancing spirit of musical sections: the 18 movements of Schumann’s 'Davidsbündlertänze,' as well as his 'Arabeske in C major,' Ravel’s eight 'Valses nobles et sentimentales,' and three movements from Stravinsky’s score for the ballet 'Petruskha.'

“There are intriguing and intoxicating elements in this dance program that captured me from the outset when crafting it,” says the Boston-born pianist. "I love the effects of color and harmony in these works, as well as the general feeling of an evolution, or perhaps a continuous battle, between the introverted and extroverted impulses … This program offers a different challenge – giving space for each musical moment to be its own distinct individual voice, while also still maintaining the narrative arc …”

George Li – Movements
Schumann ∙ Ravel ∙ Stravinsky

George Li gained international attention in 2015 when he won the silver medal in the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Now he has recorded one of Tchaikovsky’s greatest and best-loved works, the Piano Concerto No. 1, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Vasily Petrenko. The New York Times has called his performance of the work a “real revelation." It is complemented by three solo pieces by Liszt, a composer who featured on his debut Warner Classics recital, judged “a winner” by International Piano magazine.

George Li – Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 ∙ Liszt Solo Piano Works

With this recital, George Li, the young American pianist who won the silver medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 2015, makes his recording debut – and launches his relationship with Warner Classics. The album, offering an enthralling programme of Haydn, Chopin, Rachmaninov and Liszt, was recorded live at the Mariinsky Concert Hall in that other great Russian city, St Petersburg, in October 2016.

George Li – Live at the Mariinsky
Haydn ∙ Chopin ∙ Rachmaninov ∙ Liszt