Romantic World Heritage，Enjoy the Piano Island the 13th Gulangyu Piano Art Week

Where World Heritage meets the sound of the piano, and music embraces the island. On September 30th, the 13th Gulangyu Piano Art Week commenced with great fanfare on the enchanting island of Gulangyu in Xiamen. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site, Gulangyu, with its extraordinary cultural charm and mesmerizing musical rhythms, continues to transcend borders. It captivates global musical elites and piano enthusiasts alike, once again showcasing the island’s enduring allure and brilliance as the “Island of Pianos” and the “Island of Music.”

With the theme “Romantic World Heritage, Enjoy the Piano Island: OUR ISLAND, OUR PIANO,” this year’s festival is jointly organized by the Xiamen Municipal People’s Government, the Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the Fujian Federation of Literary and Art Circles. The event is hosted by the Xiamen Gulangyu-Wanshishan Scenic Area Management Committee, the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, the Xiamen Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Siming District People’s Government, and Xiamen Media Group. Running from September 30 to October 6, the festival spans seven days and features over 50 exciting events under eight key themes.

Under the stars and moonlight, with piano melodies resonating throughout, the festival’s opening night on September 30th was highlighted by a performance from Dang Thai Son, a Vietnamese-Canadian pianist and Gulangyu resident artist hailed as “Asia’s first Chopin.” He performed solo piano pieces including Adagio, BWV 564 and Images, Book I, followed by collaborative performances with his student Wang Zitong and the Fuzhou Strait Symphony Orchestra, delivering timeless concertos such as Concerto for Two Pianos, K.365 and Piano Concerto №2 in F minor, Op. 21. The opening concert set the tone for the week-long festivities with a flourish of extraordinary music. Each note played on the black-and-white keys pulsed with Gulangyu’s unique rhythm and emotions, while Dang Thai Son’s masterful artistry led the audience through a captivating musical journey, earning enthusiastic applause and acclaim. Additionally, French national honoree and fellow Gulangyu resident artist Michel Dalberto hosted a masterclass, sharing his insights with the public, further strengthening Gulangyu’s bridge to the world of music and uniting music lovers across the globe.

Opening Concert — “Soulmates on Piano Island” Dang Thai Son Symphony Concert

Michel Dalberto’s Public Masterclass

As a key highlight of this year’s Gulangyu Piano Art Week, the premium concerts not only feature Gulangyu resident artists Dang Thai Son and Michel Dalberto, but also welcome distinguished guests including Sofia Gulyak, the first female pianist to win First Prize and the Princess Mary Gold Medal in the history of the Leeds International Piano Competition, Andrei Pisarev, Russian Honored Artist and head of the piano department at Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Lin Shuobin, organ instructor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and organ education series tutor at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and Caroline Robinson, organist and assistant choral conductor at Atlanta’s Cathedral of St. Philip. These top-tier artists will deliver exceptional performances that align with international standards, creating a world-class musical feast. In addition, seven high-level academic activities, combining experience and knowledge-sharing, will invite music lovers and professionals from various fields to engage in the artistic journey together.

Moreover, diverse music events such as courtyard concerts, beach concerts, and piano classes will offer citizens and visitors a glimpse into the boundless possibilities of music, enriching the cultural lives of the public. Throughout the event, publicly accessible pianos across the island, starlit markets, art film screenings, and interactive art installations will be open to all, encouraging the public to explore Gulangyu on foot and experience the pure essence and power of music, fostering a deeper passion for music and contributing to the transmission and development of musical culture.

Notably, at 10 a.m. on October 1st, all the pianos on the island will simultaneously play My Motherland and I to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, with beautiful melodies commemorating this significant occasion.

The Gulangyu Piano Art Week, one of the most important piano art brands in China and the broader Asian region, continues to serve as a prestigious public music event, enhancing Gulangyu’s reputation as a cultural hub. The music culture of Gulangyu blends the elegance of grand concert halls with the vibrancy of community life. From intimate family concerts to lively street performances, music has become an integral part of island life, attracting music enthusiasts and professionals from all over the world. This, in turn, injects a steady stream of vitality into the island and contributes to Xiamen’s reputation as a “Cultural Center, City of Arts, and Island of Music.”

As the 13th Gulangyu Piano Art Week sets sail, the World Cultural Heritage site of Gulangyu once again shines with a dazzling musical celebration, leveraging its unique cultural charm and deep musical heritage to contribute to the protection and preservation of world heritage, while opening a new chapter in global music culture.