Glen Inanga and Hannah Shen brought masterpieces to life in a ‘four hands’ piano recital on Thursday, 11 Jan., performed to a packed Harquail Theatre.
Sitting side by side at a grand piano, Inanga and Shen captivated the audience as they played a delightful rendition of Mozart’s Sonata in C Major K521, as well as the evocative melodies of Schubert’s Fantasy in F minor D. 940.
Shen, a Chinese-Canadian pianist, chamber musician and educator, has performed across North America and Europe. Among her notable accomplishments, she was a prize winner at ages 17 and 19 at the Canadian Music Competition. She was also one of the featured artists in ‘Nuit Blanche’ at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
‘A real joy’
On the performance of her piano partner, Shen told the Compass, “Glen is a humble, versatile and talented musician who’s passionate about piano duet pieces. His vast knowledge and approach to four-hand pieces definitely enriched our rehearsals. It was a real joy performing with him last night and I hope to work him again soon.”
Inanga, Cayman Arts Festival artistic director and senior lecturer at the University College of the Cayman Islands, has performed internationally as a soloist, in a piano duet as part of the multi-award-winning Micallef-Inanga Duo, and as chamber musician on recordings on the Sono Luminus label with Grammy Award-winning artists Eliesha Nelson and John McLaughlin Williams.
“Hannah is a very talented pianist with a natural sensitivity to respond to the musical moment which makes her a joy to work with,” Inanga said of Shen, adding, “I feel it was a focused performance as we inspired each other to work towards a common artistic goal. I always enjoy watching this process of convergence as each rehearsal unfolds.”
The one-hour recital ended on a high note with their performance of Rossini’s William Tell Overture. The pair received a standing ovation from attendees.
The recital is the precursor to the Cayman Arts Festival’s 20th anniversary celebration which will begin next month.
Related Videos
