Angelin Chang - pianist: Press

Angelin Chang/Erich Eichhorn @ CSU 6/11

A faculty recital at Cleveland State University is generally an enjoyable experience, especially if the faculty involved are pianist Angelin Chang and violinist Erich Eichhorn. This particular recital had a bit of poignancy built in, as Mr. Eichhorn had, five days earlier, retired from The Cleveland Orchestra, having been a member of the first violin section for 40 years. After last month’s disastrous earthquake in China, however, the Cleveland Council on World Affairs approached CSU’s president Michael Schwartz with the idea of making the recital a benefit performance (normally, there would have been no admission fee). Dr. Schwartz was immediately receptive to the idea, and with the help of Anthony Yen and the Tenax Corporation, the campaign was launched.

The entire evening thus became a giant love-in on many levels. There were an abundance of local politicians present, encouraging the supporters of this event. Certificates were presented to all participants by the offices of Mayor Jackson, presented by Councilman Joe Cimperman and Senator Voinovich, presented by his liaison with the city, Mr. Reed. Ronn Richard of the Cleveland Foundation and Peter Lawson Jones, County Commissioner also spoke, briefly as did Mark Santoof the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, and Eddie Ni, of the Yellow Tail Buffet in Fairlawn. Anthony Yen was the genial and informal master of ceremonies, practicing to be a stand-up comedian. (That remark is meant in an entirely complimentary manner as he had everyone laughing almost continually as he spoke.) By evening’s end, more than $25,000. had been raised, an impressive amount, but still a mere pittance when confronted by the effects of the earthquake: 70,000 known dead, 300,000 injured and more than 5 million persons left homeless. As a point of reference, the population of the entire State of Ohio is eleven million.

Ms. Chang, a 2007 Grammy winner, displayed her sensitive yet authoritative and very poetic style in the Serenade or Ständchen from Schwanengesang by Schubert. This was followed by Papillons, Op. 2 by Schumann. There are so manymoods in this cycle, and Ms. Chang captured every one of them, distilling them all into a musical essence not soon forgotten.

She closed the first half of the program with the Prelude and Fugue in A minor, BWV 543/S.462 of Johann Bach, as transcribed by Franz Liszt, who came to maturity almost a century after the death of Bach. Had the piano (as we know it) not been invented in the meantime, Liszt would surely have had to invent it himself, for no mere harpsichord could stand up to the demands of his imagination. Fortunately, Ms. Chang is a pianist who has no fear of Liszt (or anyone else, I think) and provided an incredible listening experience.

After the brief intermission, Mr. Eichhorn joined his colleague on stage for the Sonata for Violin and Piano in D minor, Op. 108 by Johannes Brahms. This work, from late in the composer’s life, finds him at the peak of his composing skills, creating difficulty for all participants! However, these two masters were not in awe of it. They’ve no doubt performed it many times in past years. The first two movements displayed beautiful playing by both musicians, but in the third, Brahms suddenly uncorks a sense of humor. Brahms! Really. A delightful sequence ensues with syncopation and rhythmic off-beats, first by the piano then the violin. A few measures later, the violin plucks on the off-beats, as the piano continues on its way. With no pause or hesitation, it’s Boom! Right into the fourth movement Presto Agitato, which totally lived up to its name, with lots and lots of notes! Intensity and passion were the bywords of this collaboration, which resulted in an immediate and well-deserved standing ovation.

If you would like to contribute to Earthquake Relief in China, the Cleveland Council on World Affairs will be more than happy to accept your donations which are tax-deductible. All proceeds go directly to the Red Cross Society of China, and will provide aid to victims, including medical care and relief item distribution. Checks should be made payable to: Red Cross Society of China - Earthquake Relief. Mail to: CCWA, 812 Huron Road, Suite 620, Cleveland OH 44115For more information, call 781-3730 x102. Although there is no specific information posted about the Earthquake Relief Fund, the website is: http://www.ccwa.org.

葛萊美獨奏獎得主 張安麟 為川震義演



　張安麟（中）為四川震災舉辦鋼琴義演。（本報記者顏邦蕙攝）


【本報記者顏邦蕙克利夫蘭報導】葛萊美最佳樂器獨奏獎得主、華裔鋼琴家張安麟，日前和克利夫蘭交響樂團第一小提琴手、克州大音樂系教授艾克亨（Erich Eichhorn）共同舉行演奏會，為中國四川地震賑災及重建籌募基金。
此項義演由克利夫蘭世界事務協會（Cleveland Council on World Affairs）、克利夫蘭州立大學（CSU）、英商提納公司（Tenax Corporation）以及克城老實人報發行人共同主辦。

這場以20萬美金為募款目標的義演，出席者相當踴躍，大家也紛紛慷慨解囊，主辦單位表示，善款將直接交給中國紅十字會，作為四川地震賑災和重建之用，提供醫療照顧及物資。張安麟表示，去年底她訪問中國時，特地訪問蒙西市的姊妹市德陽及成都，並參觀了都江堰和臥龍熊貓保育園，所以她對此次四川受地震災害，感到難過，因此籌辦這次義演賑災。



2008-06-15

Liszt, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin works
Angelin Chang, piano
Sabintu Records

Cleveland State University's Grammy-winning faculty pianist takes up central works of the keyboard canon on her new solo disc. Angelin Chang brings bold, crystalline artistry to Liszt transcriptions of music by Schubert and Bach. In pieces by Schumann and Mendelssohn, she phrases with natural urgency and tames every pianistic beast before her. Chopin's Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op. 60, emerges not as sentimental miniature, but as a score in which logic and feeling are vividly balanced. Grade: A

Angelin
Angelin Chang
Sabintu Records

Cleveland’s Grammy-winning pianist, CSU professor Angelin Chang has a new solo piano CD available, just in time for holiday giving! It’s spectacular, and would be a welcome addition to the music library of anyone who enjoys great piano music played in the grand style! (Or an inspiration to any young piano student you might know!)

Ms. Chang is a joy to watch in performance, because she exudes a very satisfying visual effect of ‘poetry in motion’. On this CD, you can hear the poetry in the music she’s chosen to perform—great romantic standards of the 1800s by the acknowledged masters of that art: Liszt, Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Chopin.

Her interpretations are flawless...she’s a very warm, and extremely human artist, not a robot. Listen for the little ritards or accelerandos to become aware of this for yourself.

I don’t think you could ever get tired of listening to this CD, as each time you’ll hear something new in the music.

　
钢琴天使张安麟
2007-12-28

　
对张安麟来说，这座格莱美奖也是肯定她音乐研究的诺贝尔奖。

撰稿／刘琳（记者）

美籍华裔女钢琴家张安麟选择在上海度过她今年的最后两星期，上海川沙是她母亲的故乡。这段时间里，她除了造访东方艺术中心和上海大剧院，几乎远离音乐，只是陪伴父亲张德光——８２岁的著名华裔国际政治学家，旅游、探亲访友和品尝美食。她用这种方式惜别２００７年——一个对她而言具有里程碑意义的丰收年——今年２月，张安麟获得第４９届格莱美最佳乐器独奏奖，这是继大提琴家马友友之后第二位问鼎格莱美的华人音乐家。在上海逗留期间，张安麟接受了本刊记者的独家专访。

主流音乐传人

今年３６岁的张安麟的英文名字叫Ａｎｇｅｌｉｎ，是天使的意思，这位钢琴天使看上去不像一个明星，她身材微胖，确实像画中的天使。她性格安静，微微一笑柔情似水，讲话更是轻声细语，似乎不太擅长用语言讲述自己的成功故事，当然这或许也与她出生于美国中文不太流利有关。倒是她坐在一旁的父亲常常插话，言谈中充满着自豪，“早在１９８５年，李斯特的传人、著名钢琴演奏家爱德华·普爱乐听了当时只有十来岁的安麟的演奏后惊叹：‘她将来不只是普通的音乐家，她将成为主流音乐的传人。’”

全球最具影响力的音乐大奖之一，素有“音乐奥斯卡”美誉的格莱美印证了爱德华的预言。这个囊括３１个音乐领域包含１００多个奖项的音乐盛典，每年都会吸引全球数亿乐迷的关注，是无数音乐人心中的皇冠。这些年来，华人音乐家的身影频频亮相格莱美，除了马友友、张安麟之外，作曲家谭盾、大提琴家王健、小提琴家林昭亮、指挥家汤沐海、声乐家戴玉强、台湾唱片封面设计大师萧青阳、国内歌唱家宋祖英都曾出现在提名或入围名单里，明年的悬念是郎朗，这位年轻的天才钢琴家已入围第５０届格莱美最佳器乐独奏奖，与张安麟同属一个奖项。不过，很多人怀疑格莱美是否真的会把同一个奖项连续两年颁给亚裔人，因为格莱美时不时被人指责保守、排外、妄自尊大。

对于这次获奖，身边所有人都比张安麟本人更加兴奋：很少有不是出身于音乐世家的人能成为世界级古典音乐家，这使她的父母倍感骄傲，这当然也是全球华人的骄傲，而美国人张安麟战胜了另外４位欧洲入围音乐家这点，同样使美国感到欣慰。至于她所在的州和大学更是欢欣鼓舞，州长第一时间发来了贺信，克里夫兰大学更是把她当成招生广告：“请问，美国还有哪所大学有获得格莱美奖的教授吗？”克里夫兰市毗邻风景名胜区“五大湖”，风光旖旎，并拥有源远流长的古典音乐传统，被誉为“音乐之城”，克里夫兰交响乐团是美国五大交响乐团之一，现在那里又增加了一道新风景。

爱德华的预言确实惊人地准确。其实，张安麟并不仅仅以出色演奏家的身份传承古典音乐，她还是杰出的音乐教育家和研究者。

现任美国俄亥俄州克里夫兰大学钢琴系主任、终身教授的张安麟，与其他职业演奏家不同，她首先是个学者。她的音乐成就既得益于天赋，又和她长期积累的深厚的音乐研究功底密切相关，她把古典音乐当作一门学科、一个事件和一种自然现象加以研究，用电脑等现代化手段进行分析、破解，试图解开作曲家的创作动机及其魅力永存之谜，对张安麟来说，研究和教学是她的本职工作，而演奏只是其研究成果的展示。事实上，这次格莱美的获奖作品《异国鸟歌》，就是张安麟多年潜心研究的重要成果。

《异国鸟歌》是一部奇特的作品，出自被誉为２０世纪最伟大的音乐家之一的法国作曲家奥利维·梅西安之手。梅西安是位非常专业的鸟类观察家，他在上世纪５０年代用五线谱记录下来的各种鸟鸣声，张安麟用电脑声谱与真正的鸟鸣声加以对照分析后发现，两者竟然几乎完全一致。张安麟说：“在他的音乐世界里，鸟儿们都是活生生的，它们或飞行或栖息。那里的鸟鸣声不是被抽离的摹仿。”张安麟的博士论文题目就是“梅西安鸟歌研究”。当梅西安的雨燕、鲱鸥、蓝岩画眉、百灵们在张安麟的钢琴上婉转鸣唱时，１万多名格莱美评委被征服了。所以，对张安麟来说，这座格莱美奖也是犒赏她音乐研究的诺贝尔奖。

张安麟的最新研究课题是困扰许多钢琴演奏者的手疾问题。由于弹奏方法或技巧运用不当，或是为了发出某种特别的声音，坚持用很别扭的手法练习演奏，不少钢琴演奏者患有手疾。张安麟希望在音乐与医学的交叉中找到防治这种职业病的方法。

无论是演奏，还是带教学生、研究课题，张安麟都有一种使命感，所以她在发表获奖感言时说：“获奖只会加重我对音乐的使命感，接下来的岁月都是我报答的时光。”

天才学生

在父亲张德光看来，张安麟从小就是一个钢琴天使。

张安麟４岁开始学琴，有一次她随父母做客朋友家，小安麟厌烦了谈兴正浓的大人们哭闹起来，于是朋友夫妻把她领进了琴室，琴声一起，小安麟停止了吵闹，这一小小表现，使得张德光尝试着发掘女儿的天赋。

“我从小就对乐器着迷，既学钢琴又学小提琴，每天得花很多时间，没人规定我练多长时间，自己觉得一段曲子练得差不多了才会停止。的确很辛苦，但爱上了就不觉得苦，而且我很清楚吃了这些苦会得到什么，音乐是我的工具，我想掌握这个工具表达自己的情感。”她说。

张安麟惊人的天赋和执著的求知欲感动过不少曾指引她的名师。张安麟曾拜师美国朱莉娅音乐学院的一名著名教授，他每小时收费１５０美元，这超出了当时她家的承受能力，于是跟那位教授商量，是否每次就教一刻钟。张安麟回忆说：“结果，超出一刻钟了，他还在往下教，而我就像坐在出租车上遇到堵车一样，急得不得了，尽想着钱的事。最后他上了整整三小时的课，却说你就给一小时的钱吧，不过千万别对别人说。现在我可以说了，因为他已去世了。”

张安麟当年在数百名考生中以第一名成绩考入美国印第安纳州博尔大学音乐系，取得该校音乐学士，后来又在印第安纳大学获得音乐硕士学位，在约翰·霍普金斯大学获得音乐博士学位。其间她还留学巴黎音乐学院，她的老师就是奥利维·梅西安的太太，人称“法国最懂音乐”的女人。一次，当梅西安在家中从头至尾全神贯注地听完张安麟的演奏后，对妻子说：“你有一位天才学生。”

如今，张安麟经常担任众多国际音乐赛事的评委，但她对音乐比赛的看法与众不同。“其实，我觉得音乐不是田径项目，是不能比的。比赛对一些新人来说只是冒出来的机会，如此而已，但不是公平的，第一名不一定是最好的，每个评委的口味、标准相差很大，胜者往往是妥协、平衡的结果。”作为一个教授和评委，张安麟对年轻音乐演奏者的忠告是，要创造，不要只一味模仿，要注意音乐的本质，而不是仅仅在技巧上下功夫，就像写诗，有的诗很华丽，语法都正确，却不是好诗，有些诗语法不都正确，很朴素、很天真，但非常动人，是伟大的作品。

张安麟说她非常喜欢郎朗，他的演奏充满激情，尽管他们是朋友，但郎朗喜欢叫张安麟为老师，而这位老师最爱干的事，就是带着这名超级学生在美国满大街找好吃的中餐馆。

在古典音乐领域，张安麟人如其名，就像上天派来的使者。如今这位钢琴天使拥有她需要和并不需要的一切，除了爱情，张安麟至今独身，“其实我一直在恋爱，与音乐。”她说。

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[S]oloist Angelin Chang's rich, penetrating piano tone meshes gorgeously with the low string pizzicatos at the Shostakovich concerto's outset.

And for all of Chang's extroverted, deadly accurate virtuosity, she plays this work as music first, showpiece second.

Chang's prodigious control of dynamics and nuances stand out in the Messiaen.

Artistic Quality 10/10
Sound Quality 10/10

华裔钢琴家 勇夺葛莱美
张安麟获器乐独奏大奖 继马友友后扬名乐坛


　第四十九届美国葛莱美奖11日在洛杉矶Staples中心举行颁奖，华裔女钢琴家张安麟（Angelin Chang）以演奏法国名作曲家梅西安（Messiaen）的作品「各国鸟歌」（Oiseaux Exotiques），获最佳器乐独奏大奖。图为张安麟上台领奖后，高举奖座向观众致谢的神情。（美联社）
【本报记者魏碧洲纽约报导】华裔女钢琴家张安麟（Angelin Chang）11日获得2006年葛莱美奖最佳器乐独奏大奖。张安麟是继大提琴家马友友之后，第二位获得葛莱美奖殊荣的华裔音乐家。
她11日在洛杉矶出席颁奖典礼后表示非常高兴，也要感谢她父母多年支持。张安麟以演奏法国名作曲家梅西安的作品「各国鸟歌」（Oiseaux Exotiques），先从上千名竞争者中入围，最后获得评审团青睬，击败其它四位来自欧洲的小提琴、长笛等提名者，获得最后殊荣。中国著名民族歌唱家宋祖英以「百年留声」专辑所在的奖项「最佳古典跨界专辑」获得提名，但遗憾未获葛莱美奖。

张安麟的父亲张德光曾任教于台湾大学、政治大学等，也曾服务于中央研究院，目前是印第安纳州蒙西市博尔大学（Ball State University）政治学教授。张安麟几位妹妹都毕业自哈佛、哥伦比亚、约翰霍普金斯大学等名校。张家11日全部出动到加州为张安麟庆贺。张德光教授11日晚在电话受访中表示为女儿的成就感到骄傲，也是所有华人的荣誉。

张安麟五岁开始学钢琴，毕业自印州博尔大学音乐系，随后取得印第安纳大学音乐硕士，约翰霍普金斯大学音乐艺术博士，主修钢琴，后在新泽西州罗格斯大学任教。她也曾在法国巴黎音乐学院受教于名作曲家梅西安（Olivier Messiaen）。张安麟目前是克利夫兰州立大学（Cleveland State University）现任音乐学院钢琴系主任。

2007-02-12

TNC won the Best Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra award for a recording of Messiaen's Oiseaux Exotiques featuring pianist Angelin Chang that is part of a six-volume set featuring the Cleveland Chamber Symphony.

"Invariably excellent...pianist Angelin Chang's alternately prismatic and pointed artistry in the Messiaen and Shostakovich."

...the most poignant award went to pianist Angelin Chang, conductor John McLaughlin Williams and the Cleveland Chamber Symphony for Olivier Messaien's "Oiseaux Exotiques" in the cate gory of best instrumental soloist performance with orchestra....

Pianist Angelin Chang and conductor John McLaughlin Williams won the Grammy for best instrumental soloist performance with orchestra for their recording with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony of Messiaen's "Oiseaux Exotiques," from the sixth volume of the ensemble's "Music That Dares to Explore" series.

"Of the hundreds of performers who have appeared...Angelin Chang is one who has been consistently invited back. "

"She's great. She's terrific."

"Chang approached the concerto with reserved determination and agility. In the Allegro con Brio, she skimmed the keys with Mozartean grace. Accompanied by a spirited orchestra and resonant woodwind solos, she etched a fine balance between percussive and cantabile passages underlined with a nice legato." (Prince George's Philharmonic - Beethoven Concerto No. 1)

"...Olivier Messiaen's 'Oiseaux Exotiques' ("Exotic Birds") has won a deserved place in the repertoire. In its panoply of bird calls and glistening sonorities, the 1955 piece is totally original, as well as a tour de force for solo pianist, winds, brasses and percussion."

"Angelin Chang, who studied the work with the late French composer, was the vibrant soloist. She managed the death-defying writing with equal dash and subtlety."

"There were many talents for one to witness as award-winning pianist Angelin Chang charmed her listeners on the Emens stage. Chang displayed a genuine understanding of the second movement, and her unique technical wizardry provided a delicate beauty to each of the cascading lines and trills. She even choreographed her hand movements with musical fluidity. With an interpretation that seemed remarkably original and fresh, Chang delivered some of the difficult figurations with a light distinct clarity. Equally delightful was the way she could draw out and sustain a phrase or passage." (Muncie Symphony Orhcestra - Chopin Concerto No. 2)

"Piano soloist Angelin Chang provided the necessary grace in her playing to make the composition work. Her playing was one of the highlights of the evening, bringing out the lightness in the piece, giving it attitude that please concert goers."

"Created dialogue. Her playing, in addition, was fluid, limpid, lovely. Her touch enhanced the lyrical quality of the music. She commands a precise and yet delicate method of striking the keys. There was refinement in her pianism and yet a quiet passion in her approach to the music. Chang brings understanding and sensitivity to a performance."

One key at a time, Chang masters the piano
"Practice is definitely a part of the process but you also should become involved in the whole culture of the art."

"it was marvelous!"
"a straightforward yet intense approach which does ample justice to the music and its intent, and the technique to make it all seem perfectly effortless. Intonation, dynamics, expression—all was as it should be in this very satisfying performance. "

"[Soaring Spirit] disc with pianist Angelin Chang, a faculty member at Cleveland State University, is a recital of works that need not be admired only by violists….Chang collaborates with striking vibrancy. A”

"Rich musical rewards. This opening concert featured the distinguished young American pianist Angelin Chang, who played Schumann's Piano Concerto with grace and fluency. The first movement was marked by poetic eloquence and the finale danced along with a vivacious springy rhythm."

Chang tries to make piano accessible
"'It’s not just the product, but the process,' Chang said, referring to learning how to play a musical instrument."

"An enthusiastic State Department audience savored the talents of Angelin Chang during a recent performance in the Dean Acheson Audititorium."

"Her introductory remarks concerning Messiaen's spirituality and musical philosophy illuminated the selections almost as much as did her sensitive playing."
"She was dazzlingly pyrotechnic."
"It left her audience wanting more."
"A thoroughly satisfying musical offering."

"The Drinko Hall is usually about half to three quarters filled when the CCS performs, but last Monday's performance attracted enough fans to fill most the seats, including students from other Cleveland schools. Certainly one of the attractions was the third composition by a well-known composer, Olivier Messiaen, and his piece Oiseaux Exotiques (Exotic Birds). This piece came perfectly timed for the arrival of spring. Messiaen's theme for the piece was to replicate the sounds of various birdsongs, reputed in the score to be from forty-seven types of birds. The majority of these bird songs came from Angelin Chang's colorful piano playing. Her hands flew lightly over the keyboard like the birds she sought to emulate. The lines felt disjointed, accurately recreating the feeling of truly hearing a tree full of random bird sounds....the warmth of the composition made this one of the highlights of the evening."

克城聞琴抒感 一位觀衆對張安麟音樂會樂評

克里夫蘭州立大學音樂敎授、鋼琴系主任張安麟 (Dr. Angelin Chang, pianist)與克里夫蘭的小提琴手Erich Eichhorn, violinist 舉行雙重奏.