ZHAOYI LONG

"What I hear in his Chinese pieces is delicacy and purity combined with Western sturdiness and love of big moments. Chinese-born, American-trained pianist Zhaoyi Long deserves much credit for playing so thoughtfully, expressively, and authoritatively. She has loads of technical skill, as heard in `A Thunderstorm in Fair Weather’. And in the program-ending, Latvian-based works, she proves again her strength and command."

American Record Guide [January/February 2024]

"In a rare moment, we find an exquisite musical recording that rises above others to express beauty and joy for its own sake. Such is the case with 'Piano Works of Harry Ore,' played by gifted pianist Zhaoyi Long, a rising star in the concert world."

Joel C. Thompson, Cherry Grove Music Review [2023]

"This is a recording of a very skilled pianist playing music that was very new to me. It was good that there was some contrast in style, otherwise, by the end of this disc, I might have been tired of the works, as charming as they are... Zhaoyi Long's playing was beautiful and she brought the character of these pieces to life."

Geoff Pearce, Classical Music Daily [September 2023]

"The overall impression of the CD is of pleasant, nicely played salon music with some unusual thematic, harmonic and rhythmic elements... a well-performed recital of not-quite-trifles that draw effectively on a variety of geographical and cultural sources."

Mark J. Estren, InfoDad [2023]

"No doubt Ore composed these works as concert vehicles for his own performance, and they are all designed to please the audience by showcasing the pianist’s virtuoso gifts. No new or revolutionary ground is broken. But the works are all artfully crafted, never suffer from longueurs, and achieve their goal of celebrating both the spotlighted folk music and the art of the virtuoso... [Zhaoyi Long] is a superb advocate for Ore’s piano works, playing them with brilliant technique, lyrical beauty, and elegant, sensitive phrasing. This is a most enjoyable recital in every respect. Recommended."

Ken Meltzer, Fanfare [March/April 2024]

Born in 1885, Harry Ore was a Jewish Latvian pianist, composer and teacher. At an early age, Ore’s professional musical training was steeped in the Russian tradition under the tutelage of Joseph Wihtol (1863-1948) and Anatoly Liadov (1855-1914), both of whom were pupils of Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908). In 1915, Ore launched a tour throughout the Orient, from the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin to Shanghai in 1917, albeit without establishing a long-term residence. From 1921 onward, he settled down in Hong Kong and Macau, where he resided for more than 50 years until his passing.

During his sojourn in southern China, Ore composed numerous distinctive pieces, taught countless students and performed at venues throughout the region. He represented the highest level of performance and teaching in China during that period, resulting in many of his pupils becoming renowned pianists and composers, including Xinghai Xian, Sown Le Choi and Suxin Li. Ore was fond of travel, and visited many Southeast Asian countries, such as Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, where he held recitals and taught master classes.

Harry Ore’s compositions in Cantonese style were mainly created during his early period after settling down in Hong Kong and Macau. In addition to the music he composed based upon Eastern folk music, Ore also composed pieces rooted in music of the Latvian folk tradition, including his First Rhapsody, Second Rhapsody and Latvian Bagatelles. In stark contrast to the pieces in Eastern ("Oriental") styles, these works are dominated by elements of the Western music tradition and were written during Ore’s residence in Hong Kong after Latvia achieved independence. Ore, as a Latvian with a strong sense of patriotism, manifested his deep love and yearning for his homeland in these pieces. 

Despite a life dedicated to music, Ore’s last years were rife with loneliness and misery. Without  the  companionship of his family, he lived with his pupils, depending on their care, and died at the age of 87 in 1972.
 

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Pianist Zhaoyi Long has performed in venues across the United States, China and Italy, including Boston’s Jordan Hall, New York’s Merkin Concert Hall, Cincinnati’s Werner Hall, Hong Kong’s City Hall, Theatre of Macau Cultural Center, Guangzhou Xinghai Concert Hall, Shenzhen Concert Hall and He Luting Concert Hall of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Long has also been invited to attend numerous international music festivals, including Manhattan in the Mountains Music Festival, New York International Masters Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival and the Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival in Italy. In addition, she has attended master classes with esteemed pianists, including Jörg Demus, Alexander Korsantia, Meng-Chieh Liu, Alessio Bax, Jerome Lowenthal, Julian Martin, Vladimir Feltsman, Qifang Li, Arthur Greene, Joanne Polk and Norman Kreiger. 

Long is also a prize winner in international and national competitions; she has received honors from the Open Group of the 16th Hong Kong-Asia Piano Open Competition, Young Artist  Group of the Fourth German Irmler International Piano Open Competition, New York Piano Masters Music Festival Competition, IAC Sino-American International Piano Competition, Yamaha Asia Music Scholarship Competition, Pearl River Kayserburg Scholarship Competition and Honors Competition in New England Conservatory.

Born in 1996 in China, Zhaoyi Long began playing the piano at the age of four. She received early professional musical training at the Music School attached to Xinghai Conservatory of Music starting in 2008 under the guidance of Choi Sown Le. In 2018, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree with Merit Award from Xinghai Conservatory of Music, studying under the tutelage of Vivian Li, Mei Zhu and Fang Li. She subsequently moved to the United States and began studying with Victor Rosenbaum at New England Conservatory on a Dean’s Scholarship. There, she earned her Master of Music degree with Academic Honors in 2020. She then received a full scholarship to study with Ran Dank at the University of Cincinnati, Conservatory-College, earning her Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in April 2023. HARRY ORE (1885-1972)

Works Based upon Eastern Folk Tunes
SOUTH CHINA FANTASY – THE LADY AND THE FLOWERSELLER, OP.17, NO.1
 
FIVE SOUTH CHINESE FOLKSONGS, OP.17, NO.2
I. Prayer of the Monks                
II. The Autumnal Moon as Seen from a Palace
III. The Raindrops Knocking at the Leaves of the Banana Tree
IV. The Hungry Horse Rings the Bell      
V. Song of Despair                                          
 
TWO SOUTHERN CHINESE MELODIES, OP.18                                     
I. Two Butterflies                                                                     
II. A Thunderstorm in Fair Weather
 
MACAU LULLABY, OP.19                                                       
 
CONCERT SUITE BASED ON ORIENTAL MUSIC, OP.23
I. Japan: The Lion of Echigo                     
II. South China: Goldrain from the Weeping Tree
III. Philippines: The Mosquitoes Above the Lake of Sampálok
IV. Indonesia: A Greeting from Portuguese Timor                    
 
Works Based upon Latvian Folk Tunes
FIRST RHAPSODY, OP.6                                        
 
SECOND RHAPSODY, OP.7
 
TWO LATVIAN BAGATELLES, OP.21
I. Adagio cantabile
II. Prestissimo
 



MSR Classics