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In Humour & Horizons, Alexander Yau traverses wit, lyricism, and drama across eras. Beethoven’s intimate Op. 101 and Schumann’s mercurial Humoreske reveal playful introspection, while Debussy’s evocative Préludes paint shifting sonic landscapes. The journey culminates in the fiery urgency of Prokofiev’s Sixth Sonata — bold, restless, and electrifying.
PROGRAM
L. van Beethoven
Sonata no. 28 in A major Op. 101
R. Schumann
Humoreske Op. 20
15-minute interval
C. Debussy
Préludes, book 1
no. 4 ‘… Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir’
no. 5 ‘… Les collines d’Anacapri’
no. 6 ‘… Des pas sur la neige’
no. 7 ‘… Ce qu’a vu le vent d’ouest’
S. Prokofiev
Sonata no. 6 in A major Op. 82
ABOUT ALEXANDER YAU
Alexander Yau, an eminent young Australian pianist, has developed himself into a multifaceted musician incorporating his many musical talents as a chamber musician, conductor and composer. Pianist Balazs Szokolay describes “his artistic taste is good enough not to make any kind of “show” even in the most brilliant parts of great masterworks”.
His major concerto appearances as soloist include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Rachmaninoff’s Concerto no.3, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra with Rachmaninoff’s Concerto no. 1 and a major tour with the SBS Youth Orchestra in Australia, with Rachmaninov’s Concerto no. 2, various concertos performances with the Festival Orchestra Sinfonica “Duchi d’Acquaviva” and the Budweis Philharmonic Orchestra, finally the Sydney Conservatorium Orchestra with Brahms’ Piano Concerto no. 2.
He is currently an Associate Lecturer of Collaborative Piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, a Casual Principal Pianist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and previously a music staff on contract at the Opera Australia. Previously he graduated his Masters of music from the renowned Juilliard School studying with prof. Matti Raekallio. He completed his Bachelor of Music piano performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney, with first class Honours studying with Daniel Herscovitch and Elizabeth Powell.
In recent years he turned to focus on music arranging. He gave the Australian premiere his newly written virtuosic transcription of “Dance of the Seven Veils from Richard’s Strauss’ Salome” for solo piano at the 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition, as one of the 3 Australian competitors.
