Fang Yan Celebrates Ravel’s 150th Anniversary in China and Beyond

Chinese pianist Fang Yan, a rising soloist with an expanding international profile, recently performed Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major with the Jilin Symphony Orchestra on November 14 at Changying Concert Hall, conducted by Tan Xilu. The concert marked his debut with the orchestra and continued a season in which he has celebrated the 150th anniversary of Ravel’s birth across multiple countries.

“Ravel is a magician,” Fang said before the concert. “His orchestration, his harmony, and the colours he creates are extraordinary. And he was never afraid to try something new. You can even hear jazz in this concerto. It is a magical work.”

Fang’s performance in Changchun followed an earlier rendition of the concerto in Harbin and comes at a time when his international career is reaching new milestones, with notable performances in major cities around the world.

In March 2025, he was invited to perform Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major with the Mariinsky Orchestra under Valery Gergiev in the theatre’s subscription season as part of the Ravel 150th celebrations, becoming the first Chinese pianist in 16 years to appear in the Mariinsky’s subscription series.

He also represented Asian pianist at the Daegu International Piano Festival in South Korea, where he performed with the Daegu Symphony Orchestra under Artistic Director Jin Hyoun Baek, one of Korea’s leading orchestras. Fang joined renowned pianists such as Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Wael Farouk and and other two pianisrs contributing to the festival’s success.

His dedication to both solo and concerto repertoire, along with his work in chamber music, led to the Grand Prize at the Busan International Music Competition with his piano duo, The Fifth Season, formed with pianist Abisal Gergiev.

Fang was born in Xiamen, China. At 15, he moved to Los Angeles to begin his studies in the United States at the Colburn School with Dr. Myong-Joo Lee, completing his high-school years there. He later earned his Bachelor of Music at the New England Conservatory with Alexander Korsantia, his Master of Music at The Juilliard School with Jerome Lowenthal and Hung-Kuan Chen, and his Artist Diploma at the Manhattan School of Music with Yefim Bronfman, where he became the first piano AD at the institution in almost a decade.

Fang’s performances reflect his belief that music transcends national borders. “Music crosses cultures,” he said. “When I play Western classical music, I always combine my understanding of China’s 5,000-year culture with the Western tradition, bringing together the lyrical and emotive depth of both.”

The past two seasons has bringing him to more than across 3 continents and 40 cities around the world. His musicianship has been widely praised by leading artists and critics. Dang Thai Son has cited his “high level of professionalism, a keen ear, and a rare sense of making the piano at times sing or speak.” Alexander Korsantia has remarked that his soundstage is “second to none.” Jerome Lowenthal, longtime chair of piano at The Juilliard School, has described him as “a mature and authoritative piano-artist who unites commanding pianism with highly imaginative and personal musicality,” while People’s Daily praised his phrasing for combining “academic rigor with improvisatory freedom,” revealing “musical wisdom beyond his years.”

Fang’s cross-cultural work extends beyond the concert hall. In China he has organised a long-running charity concert series, the Yan Fang Charity Concerts, which to date has helped provide reading corners for more than 7,000 students in underserved communities. He also created a guided-concert format known as the Resonance Series, which combines performance, concise narrative, and listening prompts to help new audiences feel closer to classical music.

Fang has also toured the world with the Yellow River Piano Concerto. He made his Shanghai International Arts Festival (SIAF) debut this year, performing the concerto with Yuri Medianik as part of the festival’s Art Sky series. The performance coincided with several commemorations, including the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism in the Second World War and the 55th anniversary of the concerto’s premiere, composed by a group of composers including his mentor Yin Chengzong.

“For me, art connects the world,” he said. “Regardless of background, music is a shared language that helps us look beyond our differences. As young musicians, we have a responsibility to bring these musical experiences to more people. I hope for peace, and music is an important bridge.”

His shimmering performance of Ravel in Changchun brought that belief into focus once again. Whether in China, the United States, or on other international stages, Fang Yan continues to use the piano not only as an instrument of virtuosity but also as a way to build understanding across cultures.