A poster for Zhang Haochen's piano recital on June 14. Images courtesy of Shenzhen Concert Hall

This weekend, acclaimed Chinese pianist Zhang Haochen will return to Shenzhen Concert Hall to present a night of Beethoven and Schumann sonatas.

In 2009, Zhang became the first Asian champion in the history of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, quickly establishing himself as a rising star in classical music. He moves audiences worldwide with his extraordinary imagination, brilliant technique, and profound musical sensibility.

Since his debut, Zhang has released five studio albums on the BIS label, with several of his recent recordings earning Gramophone's “Editor’s Choice” and “Recording of the Month” accolades. On stage, he is not only a favored partner of top-tier ensembles such as the Munich Philharmonic, Staatskapelle Berlin, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra, but has also collaborated with conductors including Tugan Sokhiev, Valery Gergiev, Marin Alsop, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Riccardo Chailly, and Lorin Maazel.

Zhang Haochen.

Sunday’s program features two of the most representative composers of the Classical and Romantic styles, as their works contrast with and resonate against each other, creating tension and connection.

The concert will open with Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101.” This work marks the composer’s inward turn and his exploration of spiritual profundity. It will be followed by Schumann’s “Piano Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp Minor, Op. 11,” a piece filled with his fervent love for Clara. This emotional and volatile Romantic masterpiece will test Zhang’s command of its rhythm and flow.

The second half will present Beethoven’s philosophical “Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110,” and will culminate in Schumann’s most ambitious grand opus — the “Fantasy in C Major, Op. 17.” This piece demands astonishing energy, while also, in the star-quiet poetry of its third movement, testing the pianist’s handling of details.

Tickets: 80-580 yuan

Time: 8 p.m., June 14

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