George Li stepped in with fifteen minutes notice on 3 December to cover an indisposed soloist during a concert with the Mariinsky Orchestra and Valery Gergiev at the NCPA in Beijing. Instead of the scheduled performance of Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, Li ended the concert with a short solo recital of Beethoven’s 32 Variations in C minor, and Liszt’s Consolation No.3 and Hungarian Rhapsody No.2. The Beijing audience kept Li on stage until nearly midnight, when he finished the concert with a final encore of Liszt’s La Campanella. Earlier the the evening, Li performed Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 with the orchestra and Gergiev.
His impromptu recital received widespread praise from the Beijing press – read some of the reviews below:
“After George Li’s excellent playing…the excited audience in the concert hall moved forward to the stage, as if to cheer a hero who had just saved the world.”
Beijing Morning Post
“His wonderful playing captured the hearts of the audience and he played Liszt’s La Campanella as an encore. He was made a superstar on this night by his powerful performance. He will have a limitless career!”
Beijing Evening News, December 2015
“To the audience, the most impressive moment was when the 20-year-old American born Chinese pianist George Li stepped in to cover Daniel Kharitonov, lighting up the night by his brilliant playing. Soon after the concert, this young talent is already an idol for many in the audience.”
Beijing Times, December 2015
Click here to watch Li’s full-length recital at the Mariinsky in St. Petersburg just days before his triumphant debut at Beijing’s NCPA.