João’s Website | Yihan’s Website
Yihan Video 1 | Yihan Video 2 | João Video 1 | Yihan Video 2
From Brazil to China — João Luiz, Afro-Brazilian guitarist, and Yihan Chen, pipa (Chinese lute)
João Luiz was a two-time Latin GRAMMY nominee and a founding member of the Brasil Guitar Duo who has performed with Yo-Yo Ma! Yihan Chen is one of the greatest pipa (Chinese lute) virtuosi of our time. These two mesmerizing artists (both U.S.-based) will showcase their respective cultures, performing both separately and together (including some pieces specially composed for the duo by João Luiz himself!)
Biography
João Luiz
João Luiz, a two-time Latin Grammy nominee, began to play the popular music of his native Brazil professionally as a child. Winner of the 2006 Concert Artists Guild Competition as a member of the Brasil Guitar Duo, João has performed extensively in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America, including with Yo-Yo Ma at a landmark concert in Cuba in 2014.
João has recorded more than fifteen CDs playing solo, duo, trio and in quartet. His most recent solo album, Central Guitar, features guitar works by Brazilian composers such as Gnattali, Guarnieri, and Gismonti.
João holds a masters degree from Mannes College, and as the recipient of the Augustine Foundation scholarship he earned his doctoral degree from Manhattan School of Music. He is the director of chamber music at CUNY Hunter College and also teaches guitar at Stony Brook University and Mannes College.
REVIEWS
“Exceptional talent and commitment to preserving Brazil’s rich musical heritage." —Sérgio Assad, Brazilian guitarist and composer
“A fastidious but deeply felt reading." —New York Times
"I admire his enormous talent and love for music, or rather ‘musics,’ because he is a consumer and researcher of all of them . . . His special sound and professionalism motivated me greatly." —Leo Brouwer, composer (Cuba)
"João Luiz is one of the musicians that fate presented to me as a partner, springboard, and catapult." —Egberto Gismonti, Brazilian guitarist, pianist & composer
BIOGRAPHY
Yihan Chen
Now residing in L.A., Yihan has performed in leading venues in Asia, North America and Europe, including the Lincoln Center Festival, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, Spoleto Festival USA, Middlebury College, Duke University, University of Connecticut, DePauw University, Indiana State University, Wesleyan University, Yale University, Univ. Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the World Stage Series at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Festival de création musicale (Radio France), La Cité de la Musique, Le Festival Avignon, Le Festival Musique en Scène, Encontros Acarte Portugal, and Winnipeg Symphony’s New Music Festival.
Yihan has been pipa soloist with Huaxia Chamber Ensemble and Music From China, and has collaborated with such renowned composers such as Chen Yi, Zhou Long, Chen Qigang and Bright Sheng.
Her recordings include The Brahmin, Three Images of Laughter, Time to Listen, Zhou Long—Tales from the Cave, and Hua Xia.
REVIEWS
“Utterly graceful playing on the pipa by Yihan Chen made it even more delectable." — Washington Post
“A magnificent performance by Yihan Chen, who seemed to bring some of the energy of flamenco and even modern rock guitar playing to her intricate plucked figurations." — Kansas City Star
"One of the world’s reigning virtuosos of the pipa . . . transfixed her listeners." — Charleston (SC) City Paper
"Chen displayed an incredible array of power, delicacy, rhythms, and harmonies on her exquisite looking—and sounding— pipa." — Charleston (SC) City Paper