International violin virtuoso Sarah Chang will make her debut appearance in Macau next month.
Fresh from her first tour of her parents’ native land in a decade, and with the release of her 18th album last month, the US-born Korean, former child prodigy will be accompanied by American pianist Andrew von Oeyen at the Macau Cultural Centre on January 19.
The duo will perform the romantic Brahms’ Sonata for Violin and Piano in D minor, and Franck’s Violin and Piano Sonata in A major, which has a final movement that offers one of the most delightful and sublime dialogues between the violin and the piano in the repertoire.

A performing wonder
If you need to be convinced that Chang is worth a listen, perhaps the New York Times offers an insight into the 28 year-old’s capabilities.
A recent reviewer of one of her concerts wrote:  “Chang was a wonder. Her full, beautiful tone, unimpeachable intonation…everything was worth hearing.”

Prestigious school
Born in Philadelphia to Korean parents, Chang began playing at four.  At five she was studying at the prestigious JuilliardSchool in New York, and by eight Chang performed solo with the New York Philharmonic.
Since then she has collaborated with the best orchestras in Europe, America and Asia, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw.

Delightful and sublime
Chang’s abilities were recognised in 1999 when she was awarded the Avery Fisher Prize, one of the most prestigious awards given to instrumentalists.
Not only that, Macau will  also premiere  “Fantasy” by the American composer Christopher Theofanidis, which has been specially composed for Chang.  
The final word should go to the man widely considered to be the 20th century’s greatest violinist, the late Yehudi Menuhin, who said: “Sarah Chang was the most wonderful, perfect, ideal violinist I had ever heard.”

by Jack Regan