This Sunday evening, Denis Matsuev, one of the most distinguished pianists of our time, will grace the Shenzhen Concert Hall with masterpieces by Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, and Prokofiev. 

Denis Matsuev. Photo by Eugene Evtukhov

A leading representative of the Russian piano school, Matsuev is celebrated for his impeccable technique, profound passion, and authoritative interpretations of Russian repertoire. Balancing power with poetry, he will guide the audience through the structural elegance of Classicism to the emotional intensity of Romanticism, tracing three centuries of piano art in one captivating program.

In 1998, 23-year-old Matsuev won the gold medal at the 11th Tchaikovsky International Competition — a victory that launched his international career and established him among the finest pianists of his generation. Notably, China became the first stop on his inaugural overseas tour, marking the beginning of his enduring connection with audiences here.

Today, recognized as one of the most authoritative interpreters of Rachmaninoff, Matsuev performs regularly with the world’s top orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, and Vienna Philharmonic. He is a regular at prestigious music festivals such as the Verbier Festival, Lucerne Music Festival, BBC Proms, and Edinburgh International Festival, and has collaborated with maestros including Valery Gergiev and Zubin Mehta.

For this concert, Matsuev has curated a program spanning Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and modern eras. 

The performance opens with Bach’s “Chaconne in D Minor” — a supreme test of piano expression. Originally for solo violin, it was masterfully arranged for the piano by Busoni, evoking the grandeur of an orchestra. Matsuev will illuminate its solemn beauty with the characteristically rich sonority of the Russian piano tradition. Next, he turns to Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, ‘Appassionata,’” a work that resonates deeply with his artistic temperament, promising a rendition filled with dramatic struggle and emotional depth.

After intermission, Schumann’s “Arabeske in C Major” offers a delicate, dreamlike interlude. Described by Matsuev as “full of poetry and color,” the piece serves as a lyrical bridge from Beethoven’s turbulence to the introspective world of Prokofiev. 

The program culminates with Prokofiev’s “Piano Sonata No. 8 in B-flat Major” — a composition of lyrical intensity, sharp rhythmic contrasts, and profound emotional power, showcasing the artist’s perfect synthesis of virtuosity and expressive depth.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 16

Tickets: 180-880 yuan

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音樂廳)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宮站), Exit D