Press
On this page you can see what they say about Dan Zhu in media and read some of the selected reviews.
New interview video with The Florentine
Ahead of his recital in Florence, an exclusive interview with world-famous violinist Dan Zhu by TF Together online program, on the topics of his music journey, Beethoven’s 250th anniversary, and life through the pandemic year, etc.
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Dan Zhu on RTHK "The Works"
Dan Zhu appears on RTHK TV program “The Works”. Featuring his interview with the program host Ben Tse and performance in studio “Albumblatt” by Richard Wagner with pianist Vanessa Wai-Yin Wong
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"Exceptionally talented violinist and a first class musician"
"distinctive dramaturgy of contrasts, crystalline tones with intensity and sensitivity"
"Truly brilliant, compelling, and polished"
“Artist of affecting humility and beautiful tone production”
"Exceptionally talented violinist and a first class musician"
“Perfect Playing”
“Most significantly talented violinist of his generation, reached an outstandingly high artistic level concerning the art of violin playing as well as the combination of intelligence and sensitivity allowing him to approach the individual musical message of the relevant composer”
“One of the most precious violin talents of today, he combines the highest virtuosity with deepest musical insight and his never ending imagination gives him the liberty to offer his interpretations with utmost conviction and great charisma”
Reviews
"2020 Rising to the Challenge the Year was"
- "On Stage NCPA" magazine December 2020 issue
Violinist Dan Zhu, among the distinguished artists from the world of classical music and literature, such as soprano Dame Felicity Lott, novelist Dan Brown, pianist Barry Douglas, shared their own views and reflections on the effects in music and performing arts through the global situation in this interview:
“…We are living in a kind of duality—the pandemic has brought about a very difficult situation in terms of work and life. At the same time, it has put a sudden stop to the frenetic pace of the world we live in and given us time to think about what is wrong with the way it has been functioning. It has forced us to reconsider how we should live, work and communicate with each other. The pandemic has also made us realise that the world is a lot smaller and connected than we think it to be…” external link
"Live music revival through pandemic“
- China Daily
On October 21, violinist sensation Dan Zhu was the first international musician to perform at City Hall since the reopening of cultural venues around Hong Kong after they were closed for almost an entire year of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“…The concert later that evening was sublime. The hall was as packed as it could be with the social distancing measures. People from all walks of life came dressed up to enjoy the novelty of a night out for a concert. And they conveyed their appreciation to the performers – Dan Zhu received a double encore, and he respectfully gave his two fellow performers, both pianists, a chance to play an encore piece…” external link
"Music comes from the heart,
the Beethovenian revolution“
- La Provincia di Cremona
Review on Dan Zhu’s recitals with pianist Kun-Woo Paik on Beethoven sonatas for violin and piano, at Auditorium Giovanni Arvedi, Museo del Violino, Cremona, Italy. September 2020
“…Proprio in queste aree dell’ espressione muove la ricerca di Dan Zhu, con un violino Ombono Stradivari del 1737, e il pianista Kun-Woo Paik, protagonisti ieri all’Auditorium Giovanni Arvedi del Museo del Violino, del primo del due concerti dedicati a Beethoven nel 250esimo anniversario della nascita…” read more
"Höhenrausch mit exzellenten Musikernr" (Ecstacy at the Peak with excellent Musicians)
- by Luzerner Zeitung
Review of Dan Zhu’s concerts at Rigi Musiktage 2020, Switzerland
“Violinist Dan Zhu, Diemut Poppen on the viola and the cellist Danjulo Ishizaka united with pianist Matan Porat to create a congenial chamber music formation. Clear articulation, fragrant delicacy and organic commonality in feeling and expression went far beyond simple interaction…… One were completely absorbed into the rich sonority…..Marvelously played with intensity and passion. All the soulful emotions were found in their performance.”…
"The musical journey shared with Dan Zhu will not be a long quiet river either"
- Concertclassic.com
Review of Paris Recital with pianist Michel Dalberto
“The musical journey shared with Dan Zhu will not be a long quiet river either: the piano tends to assert itself with verve, almost taking over the subtle but rather sensitively projected sound of the violin in Mozart’s A major Sonata KV.526. As the perfectly mastered bow control finds his way along, it reveals itself in the… more
"Dan Zhu triumphs, Christoph Eschenbach conducts the BSO at Tanglewood Festival"
- Berkshire Review
Dan Zhu with Christoph Eschenbach and Boston Symphony Orchestra, Tanglewood Festival
Leonard Bernstein wrote in a variety of manners and showed a variety of influences. None of them seems to have established itself among a broad audience. I had hoped that the Serenade (after Plato’s Symposium) might show a sophisticated side of the composer which was somehow close to the special gifts he had, but, alas, it is another shallow show piece, which doesn’t get to the heart of anything, much less Plato’s dialogue… more
"Dan Zhu, violinista geniale"
- Lavoce (in Italian)
Memorable concert in honour of Bernstein
Che dire di Dan Zhu? Definire questo giovanissimo e affermato artista del violino “geniale”, non ci pare un epiteto lontano dalla realtà. Anzi. Nonostante i tanti e talentuosi violinisti passati per il Teatro di Fiume, non ricordiamo uno che gli sia uguale. Non ricordiamo un violinista di una tale estrema intelligenza e sensibilità musicali, di tale dominio sullo strumento e siffatta raffinatezza. Il suo impegno era la “Serenade” di Leonard Bernstein in cinque movimenti, composizione ispirata al “Simposio“ di Platone, per violino, archi, percussioni e arpa che rimane una delle sue composizioni più liriche per orchestra…. more
"Perfect Play"
- Münchner Merkur
Ebersberger Klavierzyklus offers outstanding concert enjoyment with guest violinist Dan Zhu and pianist Oliver Triendl
“Did you ever hear of Bright Sheng? He is the author of the musical work “Three Fantasies” which was performed by the young violinist Dan Zhu in the “Altes Kino” as first performance in Europe. Both, composer and performer originate from China. It was one of Dan Zhu’s first recitals in Germany whereas he is already a star in his home country. He also brought works by Claude Debussy, Karol Szymanowski and Cesar Franck…. more
"Shenzhen symphonique, Chine virtuose"
- La Presse, Montreal
North American concert tour with Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra
“L’escale montréalaise de l’Orchestre symphonique de Shenzhen, ville sans histoire devenue mégapole asiatique en quelques décennies, illustre bien cette croissance phénoménale. Le violoniste Dan Zhu est le soliste invité de ce programme dominical de l’orchestre chinois, présenté à la Maison symphonique. Originaire de Pékin, où ses parents vivent toujours, ce virtuose de 33 ans est venu achever ses études de musique à New York. Dès l’âge de 9 ans, il fut repéré par la communauté classique chinoise…. more
"Proteklo je sve zlato dana"
- Danas.rs
Dan Zhu with Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra
That is why Dan Zhu takes you into another reality as a fired-up being- you have the impression that a frenzied trio races through the sound of his Korngold piece from the very beginning, pondering the ravines of “Avatar” for instance, flying on the living machines of the instrument. Dan Zhu is a violin virtuoso of a victorious tone, with thick layers of colour, which as an entranced song flashes a plurality of events on the ground, overlooking from a kind of superior vantage point… more
"Jointly with eternal breath"
- Die Welt
Tzimon Barto and Dan Zhu at Schleswig-Holstein Musik- Festival in Haseldorf
Both artists granted us an intimate Preludium. In the Adagio middle-movement they even evoke a pianissimo dream sequence giving expression to the Mozartseriousness with quiet majesty. Barto and Zhu thus play chamber music in its pure literal sense. But that is not all… more