Newport Classical Continues Chamber Series with Two November Concerts - Pianist Charlotte Hu and Saxophonist Valentin Kovalev

L-R: Charlotte Hu and Valentin Kovalev. Photos available in high resolution here.

Newport Classical Continues 2025-2026 Chamber Series

Pianist Charlotte Hu Performs Chopin
Friday, November 7, 2025 at 7:30pm

Saxophonist Valentin Kovalev performs Pictures at an Exhibition
Friday, November 21, 2025 7:30pm

Information & Tickets: www.newportclassical.org

Newport, RI – Newport Classical continues its fifth full-season Chamber Series, which features twelve concerts held on select Fridays between September 2025 and June 2026 at the organization’s home venue, the Newport Classical Recital Hall (42 Dearborn St.), with two concerts in November. Pianist Charlotte Hu performs on Friday, November 7, 2025 at 7:30pm and saxophonist Valentin Kovalev performs on Friday, November 21, 2025 at 7:30pm.

On November 7, virtuoso Taiwanese American pianist Charlotte Hu, celebrated as a "first-class talent" (The Philadelphia Inquirer) with "superstar quality" (Jerusalem Post), embarks on a compelling journey through Chopin's expressive world. From the sparkling Polonaise-Fantasie to the sweeping drama of the Piano Sonata No. 3, the heart of the evening features the luminous Nocturnes, all showcasing a different facet of Chopin’s emotional world through Hu’s expressive grace and refined lyricism. Charlotte Hu is a well-known interpreter of Chopin – her debut album, Chopin, was released in 2011 and was named Best Classical Album of the Year by Taiwan's prestigious Golden Melody Award. Hu has said that she hopes that her performances “encourage people to listen deeply and discover anew the work of even the most well-known composers.”

 Watch Charlotte Hu Perform Chopin:

On November 21, saxophonist Valentin Kovalev, a Gold Medal winner at the Jean-Marie Londeix International Saxophone Competition, brings his electrifying technique and soulful depth to his Newport Classical debut. A winner of the Concert Artists Guild competition, Kovalev presents a unique blend of virtuosic brilliance and heartfelt expression in a program that journeys from Romantic warmth to contemporary vibrancy featuring Schumann’s tender Fantasiestücke, Chaminade’s elegant Flute Concertino, Fazil Say’s vivid Suite, Debussy’s shimmering Rhapsody, the spirited energy of Barry Cockcroft’s KuKu, and Mussorgsky's art gallery-inspired masterpiece, Pictures at an Exhibition. Hailing from Siberia, Kovalev is an ebullient and highly eclectic performer whose unique style was developed after studying in Russia, France, and the US. He recently gave a sold-out debut recital at Carnegie Hall as a winner of the Naumburg Foundation 2022 Saxophone Competition.

Watch Valentin Kovalev Perform Debussy:

Newport Classical's Chamber Series takes place at Newport Classical Recital Hall in downtown Newport, known for its striking architecture and excellent acoustics. Audiences are invited to enjoy performances by world-class classical musicians in a relaxed setting, with complimentary wine generously provided by Gold's Wine and Spirits served when the doors open at 7:00pm and again during intermission. Both performers and audience members alike have described these concerts as some of their favorites. “Beautiful concert, high artistry and exciting programming . . . a deeply moving and soulful experience, with a rousing and brilliant virtuosity that kept you on the edge of your seat,” raved one attendee.

As part of Newport Classical's desire to create connections between classical music, the artists who perform it, and the Newport community, all musicians performing on the Chamber Series will also visit a local school or organization to present their talents and meaningfully engage with students and community members of all ages through Newport Classical's Music Enrichment and Engagement Initiative. While in Newport, Charlotte Hu will visit Pell Elementary School and Valentin Kovalev will visit East Bay Community Action Program’s (EBCAP) Head Start preschool.

Up next, Newport Classical presents a free Community Concert, designed especially for families – classical guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan presents his New Lullaby Project (comfy PJs and stuffed animals welcome) on October 12 at Emmanuel Church. The Chamber Series continues on October 17, with Trio Zimbalist in their Newport Classical debut, performing with what EfSyn calls “precision and feverish intensity,” in Beethoven's beloved "Archduke" Trio alongside works by Smetana and George Xiaoyuan Fu. 

The Chamber Series continues in 2026 with cellist Jonathan Swensen making his highly anticipated return on January 23 following his memorable 2024 debut as a Festival Artist. Honored with the 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant and joint First Prize at the 2024 Naumburg International Cello Competition, Swensen is described as "a musician of charisma and thrilling physicality" (BBC Music Magazine). The Verona Quartet, celebrated by The New York Times as an "outstanding ensemble... cohesive yet full of temperament," makes their Newport Classical debut on February 20 with a program tracing a vivid stylistic arc from Scarlatti to Beethoven. On March 13, baritone Benjamin Appl, whose voice “belongs to the last of the old great masters of song” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) and whose artistry has been described as “unbearably moving” (The Times), presents Schubert's hauntingly beautiful Die Winterreise with his frequent collaborator, pianist James Baillieu. Ars Poetica, an ensemble of acclaimed instrumentalists and vocalists with a passion for historical music, explores "Dance and Transfiguration" on March 27 with their colorful array of Baroque instruments. Violinist Yevgeny Kutik, praised for his "dark-hued and razor-sharp technique" (The New York Times), makes his Newport Classical debut on April 10 alongside returning pianist Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner in works by Debussy, Prokofiev, and Grieg. Rising-star pianist James Zijian Wei, first-prize winner at the 2024 Cleveland International Piano Competition, makes his highly anticipated Newport debut on May 8 with a program featuring Ravel, Liszt, and more. The Chamber Series concludes on June 5 with flutist Amir Hoshang Farsi and pianist Chelsea Wang, both Carnegie Hall Ensemble Connect alumni, presenting a program of sparkling impressionism featuring works by Fauré, Lili Boulanger, and contemporary composers Reena Esmail, Ian Clarke, and Yuko Uebayashi.

The 2026 Newport Classical Music Festival will take place from July 2-19, 2026. 

About Newport Classical

Newport Classical is a premier performing arts organization that welcomes people of every age, culture, and background to intimate, immersive musical experiences. The organization presents world-renowned and up-and-coming artistic talents at stunning, storied venues across Newport – an internationally sought-after cultural and recreational destination.

Originally founded in 1969 as Rhode Island Arts Foundation at Newport, Inc., Newport Classical has a rich legacy of musical curiosity having presented the American debuts of hundreds of international artists and is most well-known for hosting three weeks of concerts in the summer in the historic mansions throughout Newport and Aquidneck Island. In the 56 years since, Newport Classical has become the most active year-round presenter of live performing arts on Aquidneck Island, and an essential pillar of Rhode Island’s cultural landscape, welcoming thousands of patrons all year long.

Newport Classical invests in the future of classical music as a diverse, relevant, and ever-evolving art form through its four core programs – the one-of-a-kind Music Festival; the Chamber Series in the Newport Classical Recital Hall; the free, family-friendly Community Concerts Series; and the Music Education and Engagement Initiative that inspires students in local schools to become the arts advocates and music lovers of tomorrow. These programs illustrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to presenting “timeless music for today.” 

In 2021, the organization launched a new commissioning initiative – each year, Newport Classical will commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music. To date, Newport Classical has commissioned and presented the world premiere of works by Stacy Garrop, Shawn Okpebholo, Curtis Stewart, Clarice Assad, and Cris Derksen.

Oct. 26: Pianist Charlotte Hu Presented by Music on Madison – Performing the Music of Frédéric Chopin and Enrique Granados

Photo by Dario Acosta available in high resolution here.

Pianist Charlotte Hu Presented by Music on Madison
Performing the Music of Frédéric Chopin and Enrique Granados

Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 3pm
Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church
921 Madison Avenue | New York, NY
Tickets and information

“praises follow her all around the world” – International Piano

charlottehu.com

New York, NY – Internationally acclaimed Taiwanese-American pianist Charlotte Hu will be presented in concert by Music on Madison on Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 3pm. The performance will be held at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church (921 Madison Avenue). Charlotte Hu (formerly known as Ching-Yun Hu) has been praised by audiences and critics across the globe for her dazzling virtuosity, captivating musicianship, and magnetic stage presence.

With a fierce dedication to making classical music more accessible, Hu presents captivating programs that tell human stories inclusive of gender and race. By juxtaposing audience favorites with underperformed treasures and newly commissioned works, Charlotte Hu’s recitals consistently offer musical and narrative contrasts that encourage people to listen deeply and discover anew the work of even the most well-known composers.

For this concert presented by Music on Madison, Hu will perform a program dedicated to the music of Frédéric Chopin and Enrique Granados. This program connects Hu’s past and future, as the Romantic era Polish pianist and composer was the primary inspiration behind her debut solo album Chopin, released on ArchiMusic in 2011. The recording was named Best Classical Album of the Year by Taiwan's prestigious Golden Melody Award.

Conversely, Granados serves as the inspiration for Hu’s next album – her second on the PENTATONE label following 2024’s Liszt: Metamorphosis – which will be released in June 2026. Focusing on Granados’ Goyescas Suite (1911), Hu brings the vibrant, expressive, and emotionally rich melodies from this work to the live ambiance of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. The complete concert program will include: Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantasie in A-Flat Major, Op. 61; Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op. 60; selections of Mazurkas; and Polonaise "Heroic," Op. 53; as well as Goyescas No. 1: "Los requiebros" (Compliments/Flattery); No. 2: "Coloquio en la reja" (Conversation at the Window); and No. 3: "El fandango de candil" (Fandango by Candlelight) by Granados.

Hu says of this emotive program:

“I'm excited to share two composers who have become closest to my heart throughout my artistic journey: Frédéric Chopin and Enrique Granados. What fascinates me about both is how they each found their unique voice within the Romantic tradition - while both were immersed in 19th-century Paris, they remained deeply connected to their roots. Chopin brings that elegant, introspective Polish soul to everything he touches, while Granados captures something so passionate and brilliantly expressive about the Spanish spirit.

This program features some of Chopin's most treasured late works - his Barcarolle and the Polonaise-Fantasie - alongside three pieces from Granados's incredible and rarely performed Goyescas suite. I'm particularly thrilled about the Granados selections because they're part of my upcoming PENTATONE album, set for release on June 5, 2026. It's wonderful to be able to share this music with the audience at Music on Madison fresh from the studio!”

More about Charlotte Hu: As a soloist, Charlotte Hu has astounded audiences across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, performing sold-out concerts at many of the world’s most prestigious venues — including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw, Taipei National Concert Hall, and Osaka’s Symphony Hall. She is a frequent guest at music festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival, Ruhr-Klavier Festival, and Oregon Bach Festival. Concerto engagements have included performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and Taiwan Philharmonic, among others. Recent and upcoming highlights for Charlotte Hu include performances presented by Newport Classical, the Mansion at Strathmore, the Gilmore Piano Festival, the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá, the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, Taipei Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Center, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, and the Taichung Opera House.

An active recording artist, Charlotte Hu’s debut album of Chopin works on ArchiMusic was named Best Classical Album of the Year by Taiwan’s prestigious Golden Melody Award, and recordings released on Naxos/CAG Records and BMOP/sound with Boston Modern Orchestra Project have received overwhelming critical acclaim. Her Rachmaninoff album on Centaur/Naxos received a five-star review by the U.K.’s Pianist magazine, which called it “essential listening for Rachmaninoff admirers.” Her latest album, Liszt Metamorphosis, was released by PENTATONE in July 2024. In June 2026, Charlotte will release her next album on PENTATONE, which will feature Enrique Granados’ Goyescas suite in its entirety.

Charlotte Hu is the founder of two piano festivals across two continents: the Yun-Hsiang International Music Festival in Taipei and the PYPA Piano Festival in Philadelphia. Now in its 13th year, PYPA has become an important fixture in the classical music world, cultivating a deeper appreciation for classical music and serving as a cultural bridge between East and West.

At the heart of Charlotte’s success is a story of strength, dedication, and resilience that has powered her dream of becoming a world-class artist. Moving to the United States from Taiwan at age 14 without her parents to begin studies at The Juilliard School was the first of many challenges Charlotte has overcome in building her illustrious career — one that’s included winning top prizes at the 12th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition and the Concert Artists Guild Competition, performing on classical music’s biggest stages, and fostering the next generation of musicians as an advocate for classical music through entrepreneurial and philanthropic initiatives. A tireless advocate for humanity, Charlotte raised $27,000 for youth education charities through a Hope Charity Concert live-streamed on her Facebook page in June 2020. The online concert reached more than 140,000 people across the globe.

A Steinway Artist, Charlotte Hu serves as an associate professor at Boston Conservatory at Berklee and as an artist in residence at Temple University in Philadelphia, in addition to her busy performance schedule. She is a frequent guest artist, leading master classes and artist residencies at universities and music festivals worldwide. She holds degrees from The Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music, and Germany’s Hanover University of Music, Drama, and Media, where she studied with Herbert Stessin, Sergei Babayan, and Karl-Heinz Kammerling, respectively.

For more information, visit www.charlottehu.com

For Calendar Editors:

Description: Taiwanese-American pianist Charlotte Hu, who the Jerusalem Post describes as having “superstar quality” and being “musical, energetic, and full of flair,” is presented in concert by Music on Madison. Hu will perform a program featuring the music of Frédéric Chopin and Enrique Granados.

Concert details:

Who: Pianist Charlotte Hu
Presented by Music on Madison
What: Music by Frédéric Chopin and Enrique Granados
When: Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 3pm
Where: Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, 921 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10021
Tickets and information: mapc.com/music/sams

Pianist Charlotte Hu Announces 2025-2026 Season Highlights

Photo by Dario Acosta available in high resolution here.

Pianist Charlotte Hu Announces 2025-2026 Season Highlights

Recitals Presented by The Gilmore, Newport Classical, Strathmore, Music on Madison in NYC, Boston Conservatory at Berklee,Taipei Concert Hall, & more

New PENTATONE Album Featuring the Complete Goyescas by Enrique Granados Coming June 5, 2026

Charlotte Hu’s 2025-2026 Programming Showcases Four Major Focuses:
Spanish Repertoire, the Music of Chopin, Pioneering Women Composers, and the Music of Pauline Viardot

“praises follow her all around the world” – International Piano
“a superb pianist” – Philadelphia Inquirer

Complete Schedule: charlottehu.com/calendar

Taiwanese-American pianist Charlotte Hu (formerly known as Ching-Yun Hu) has been praised by audiences and critics across the globe for her dazzling virtuosity, riveting musicianship, and magnetic stage presence. Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung describes Hu’s playing as “extremely confident and physically strong.” She possesses, writes the Jerusalem Post, “superstar quality – musical, energetic and full of flair.”

With a vast repertoire encompassing the works of composers from the 18th Century to the modern era, Charlotte Hu presents compelling programs that juxtapose audience favorites with underperformed treasures and new commissions. As a soloist, Hu has captivated audiences across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, performing sold-out concerts at many of the world’s most prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw, Taipei National Concert Hall, National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, Hong Kong Cultural Center, the Taichung Opera House, and Osaka’s Symphony Hall. She is a frequent guest at music festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival, Ruhr-Klavier Festival, and Oregon Bach Festival. Concerto engagements have included performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Taiwan Philharmonic, Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá, and National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra.

Charlotte Hu's 2025-2026 season showcases four major focuses – Spanish repertoire, the music of Chopin, works by pioneering women composers, and a new project for The Gilmore featuring the music of Chopin paired with the music of French composer and mezzo-soprano Pauline Viardot. She performs in recitals presented by The Gilmore, Newport Classical, Music on Madison in New York City, Strathmore, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and the Taipei Concert Hall, among others.

In October 2025, Hu will record her next album – her second for the PENTATONE label – with producer Everett Porter of Polyhymnia at Muziekcentrum van de Omroep (MCO) in Hilversum, The Netherlands. The new album, which will feature Enrique Granados’ Goyescas suite in its entirety, will be released on June 5, 2026. It follows Hu’s PENTATONE debut recording, Liszt: Metamorphosis, which was released July 2024. International Piano wrote that Metamorphosis “showcases some truly beautiful piano playing, while BBC Music Magazine describes the album as “a splendid introduction to a talented pianist.” Hu will be performing music from her forthcoming Goyescas recording throughout the upcoming season, including presented by the Puffin Cultural Forum (Teaneck, NJ; October 9, 2025); Music on Madison (New York, NY; October 26, 2025); Lynn University (Boca Raton, FL; December 6, 2025); Hemet Concert Association (Hemet, CA; April 12, 2026); Cheboygan Chamberfest (Cheboygan, MI; May 23, 2026); and Taipei National Concert Hall (Taipei, Taiwan; June 24, 2026).

During the 2025-2026 season, Charlotte Hu will work with The Gilmore, serving as an Artist Teacher for The Gilmore International Piano Festival and collaborating on a new program with soprano Raquel Gonzalez. Hu will showcase the music of French composer and mezzo-soprano Pauline Viardot paired with music by Viardot’s close friend, Frédéric Chopin. It features a selection of Viardot’s solo piano works and her songs for soprano and piano, as well as her arrangements of Chopin’s Mazurkas for voice and piano.

Also this season, returning to the repertoire of her 2011 debut solo album, Chopin, Hu celebrates the music of the beloved Polish composer and virtuoso pianist Frédéric Chopin by performing selections from his Mazurkas and Nocturnes; Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58; Variations on “Là ci darem la mano,” Op. 2; Berceuse in D-flat major, Op. 57; Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op. 60; and Polonaise “Heroic,” Op. 53. Hu performs music by Chopin presented by Music on Madison (New York, NY; October 26, 2025); Newport Classical (Newport, RI; November 7, 2025); The Gilmore (Kalamazoo, MI; November 19, 2025); Lynn University (Boca Raton, FL; December 6, 2025); and the Jamestown Community Piano Concert Series (Jamestown, RI; January 18, 2026); Hemet Concert Association (Hemet, CA; April 12, 2026); and Cheboygan Chamberfest (Cheboygan, MI; May 23, 2026).

In spring 2026, Charlotte Hu brings her artistry and versatility to Women Pioneers – a program highlighting the significant legacy of women composers from the early 19th century to today, from important historical women composers including Lili Boulanger, Fanny Mendelssohn, Pauline Viardot, and Margaret Bonds to some of today’s most in-demand composers such as Jennifer Higdon, Lera Auerbach, and Unsuk Chin. Featuring music of contrasting forms, styles, and influences, Women Pioneers offers fascinating connections and fresh perspectives on the role of women in Western music history. Hu will perform the program at Boston Conservatory at Berklee (Boston, MA; March 26, 2026) and Strathmore’s Music at the Mansion (North Bethesda, MD; April 2, 2026).

A Steinway Artist, Charlotte Hu serves as an associate professor at Boston Conservatory at Berklee and as an artist in residence at Temple University in Philadelphia. She is also the founder and artistic director of the Yun-Hsiang International Music Festival in Taipei and the Philadelphia Young Pianists' Academy (PYPA). Now in its 13th year, PYPA provides concert opportunities for young pianists while serving as an important cultural bridge between East and West.

In addition to her recordings for PENTATONE, Hu’s debut album, Chopin, was released on ArchiMusic in April 2011 and was named Best Classical Album of the Year by Taiwan's prestigious Golden Melody Award. Her recordings released on CAG/Naxos and BMOP/sound have received overwhelming critical acclaim. Her Rachmaninoff album on Centaur/Naxos received a five-star review by the U.K.'s Pianist magazine, which called the album “essential listening for Rachmaninoff admirers.”

Concert details are available on Charlotte Hu’s performance calendar: charlottehu.com/calendar

For more information about Charlotte Hu: charlottehu.com/biography

Pianist Charlotte Hu (formerly Ching-Yun Hu) Announces New Name & New PENTATONE Album Liszt: Metamorphosis - Out July 19

Pianist Charlotte Hu (formerly Ching-Yun Hu) Announces New Name
& New PENTATONE Album Liszt: Metamorphosis

“first-class talent” – The Philadelphia Inquirer

Release Date: July 19, 2024 

Album Release Concert: July 27, 2024 at 7:30pm
Academy of Vocal Arts | 1920 Spruce St. | Philadelphia, PA
Tickets & Information

CDs or press downloads available upon request.

www.charlottehu.com | www.pentatonemusic.com

Pianist Charlotte Hu (formerly known as Ching-Yun Hu) will release her next album, Liszt: Metamorphosis, on July 19, 2024 – it will be her debut album for PENTATONE. On it, Charlotte explores Hungarian composer and virtuoso pianist Franz Liszt’s chameleonic and evolving approach to composing – the metamorphosis of his music spanning from his early works inspired by Beethoven to the abstract tonality of his later works, as well as his incredible ability to transcribe and transform the music of other composers he admired. Liszt: Metamorphosis includes Liszt’s Les jeux d'eau à la Villa d'Este (The Fountains of the Villa d’Este) from 1877; his Lieder Transcriptions of art songs by Schumann and Schubert from 1838 and 1848; Three Concert Études from 1845-49; and Rhapsodie espagnole (Spanish Rhapsody) from 1858. Charlotte Hu will celebrate the release of the album with a performance of the program on July 27, 2024 at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, PA for Opening Night of the PYPA Piano Festival (tickets and information).

Described as a “first-class talent” (Philadelphia Inquirer) possessing a “superstar quality – musical, energetic, and full of flair” (Jerusalem Post), Taiwanese-American pianist Charlotte Hu has been praised by audiences and critics across the globe for her dazzling virtuosity, captivating musicianship, and magnetic stage presence. As a soloist, she has astounded audiences across the U.S., Europe, and  Asia, performing sold-out concerts at many of the world’s most prestigious venues, including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw, Taipei National Concert Hall, and Osaka’s Symphony Hall. She is a frequent guest at music festivals, such as the Aspen Music Festival, Ruhr-Klavier Festival, Oregon Bach Festival. Concerto engagements have included performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and Taiwan Philharmonic, among others. 

At the heart of her success is a story of strength, dedication, and resilience that has powered her dream of becoming a world-class artist. Moving to the United States from Taiwan at age 14 without her parents to begin studies at The Juilliard School was the first of many challenges Charlotte overcame in building her illustrious career – one that has included winning top prizes at the 12th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition and the Concert Artists Guild Competition, performing on classical music’s biggest stages, and fostering the next generation of musicians as an advocate for classical music through entrepreneurial and philanthropic initiatives.

Today, in addition to her prolific performing career, Charlotte is the founder of two piano festivals across two continents: the Yun-Hsiang International Music Festival in Taipei and the PYPA Piano Festival in Philadelphia. Now in its 12th year, PYPA has become an important fixture in the classical music world, cultivating a deeper appreciation for classical music and serving as a bridge of cultural partnerships between West and East. A tireless advocate for humanity, Charlotte raised $27,000 for youth education charities through a Hope Charity Concert live-streamed on her Facebook page in June 2020. The online concert reached more than 140,000 people across the globe.

With this album’s release, Charlotte Hu announces a metamorphosis of her own – a new name. She says, “When I came to America from Taiwan at the age of 14, my Chinese name was translated to Ching-Yun. Though musical sounding, the translation from Chinese did not reflect its origin. I've long felt the need to embrace my evolving identity. To better reflect this new direction, I have chosen Charlotte Hu as my new stage name. Having lived as Ching-Yun in the media for decades and through so many important life milestones, it was not an easy decision. However, with time, experience, and self-realization comes strength to embrace change. Charlotte, with French origins, means freedom. As a Taiwanese-American, Charlotte embodies the core of my personality and lifelong aspiration to have the courage to act, think, and speak without hindrance or restraint.” 

Charlotte Hu on the music featured on Liszt: Metamorphosis:

“Les jeux d'eau à la Villa d'Este presents Liszt as a composer of vivid, painterly impressions decades before the musical style made famous by Debussy and Ravel. With its waves of whispering and shimmering arpeggios gliding throughout the full range of the keyboard, this work immediately enchants listeners and draws them in.

A collection of five lieder transcriptions speak to a side of Liszt often forgotten – one rooted in his spirituality and deep love for German poetry. These Schubert and Schumann lieder are instantly recognizable to many listeners, and even without their texts, Liszt's mesmerizing transcriptions chart a journey of the heart – reflecting on love and longing, the passage of time, and the supernatural realm that lies beyond what our eyes can see.

The album’s second half offers some of Liszt's most colorful and spirited music. The Three Concert Études are scintillating tone poems that, in terms of cinematic scope, match the power of those he wrote for large orchestra. And the Rhapsodie espagnole brings a showstopping conclusion in an exhilarating celebration of Spanish culture, inspired by the composer's own travels to the Iberian Peninsula in 1845.”

More about Charlotte Hu: An active recording artist, Charlotte Hu’s debut album of Chopin works on ArchiMusic was named Best Classical Album of the Year by Taiwan’s prestigious Golden Melody Award, and recordings released on Naxos/CAG Records and BMOP/sound with Boston Modern Orchestra Project have received overwhelming critical acclaim. Her Rachmaninoff album on Centaur/Naxos received a five-star review by the U.K.’s Pianist magazine, which called it “essential listening for Rachmaninoff admirers.” 

With a dedication to making classical music more accessible, Charlotte Hu presents captivating programs that tell human stories inclusive of gender and race. By juxtaposing audience favorites with underperformed treasures and newly commissioned works, Charlotte’s recitals consistently offer musical and narrative contrasts that encourage people to listen deeply and discover anew the work of even the most well-known composers. 

A Steinway Artist, Charlotte Hu serves as an artist in residence at Temple University in Philadelphia, in addition to her busy performance schedule. She is a frequent guest artist, leading master classes and artist residencies at universities and music festivals worldwide. She holds degrees from The Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music, and Germany’s Hanover University of Music, Drama, and Media, where she studied with Herbert Stessin, Sergei Babayan, and  Karl-Heinz Kammerling, respectively.

Track List: 

Liszt: Metamorphosis
Charlotte Hu, Piano

PENTATONE | Release Date: July 19, 2024

1. Les jeux d'eau à la Villa d'Este, from Années de pèlerinage – Troisième année [7:57]

[2-6] Five Lieder Transcriptions

2. Leise flehen meine Lieder (Schubert) [4:53]
3. Auf dem Wasser zu Singen (Schubert) [4:07]
4. Ave Maria (Schubert) [5:21]
5. Erlkönig (Schubert) [4:31]
6. Widmung (R. Schumann) [4:21]

[7-9] Three Concert Études

7. Il lamento [10:09]
8. La leggierrezza [5:47]
9. Un sospiro [6:13]

10. Rhapsodie espagnole [13:58]