As the participating programs in SSIMF, "Bechstein piano legend of 160 years - Master Chen Hongkuan's Recital "will be performed by the Chinese pianist Chen Hongkuan on May 13 evening in Shanghai Oriental Art Center, and he will perform the famous " sonata in B minor “and " Gaspard de la nuit " known in broad varieties of timbre of Liszt by Bechstein piano D282.

Chen Hongkuan had once quit because of his severely damaged right hand. At the lowest moments of his life, in the United States he came across a qigong master, then studied qigong and Chinese Zen under coaching every day, while two years later, Chen Hongkuan's right hand recovered miraculously. Back to the stage, he has changed the style of music wholly - from the previous mighty spirit, to depth and inclusion of Zen today.

"Sonata in B minor" of Liszt will be performed distinctively, which will be regarded as "special work” owing to the way that the special life experience acts on specific music. In the current versions recorded, it usually takes 30 minutes to perform “Sonata in B minor", while Chen Hongkuan extends the time to nearly 50 minutes. "Sometimes the sound has gone, but you can feel that the music is still performing, which is a testament that silence is more significant than voice." A senior fan who had listened to live music of Chen Hongkuan commented. Although the interpretation of the music are still controversial, Chen Hongkuan has a perspective that is the closest to the original, and he even studied literary and philosophical works in the same period of Liszt, such as putting the understanding of Goethe's "Faust " into the sonata.

In addition, Ravel’s "Gaspard de la nuit" is also quite amazing. The whole work has very rich variation in timbre and emotion, from sparkling river to stormy sea, from twilight to dawn, and it is said that the single movement "gallows" contains at least 27 different finger-touches. It will be the "touchstone" of a piano, not only a real test of performer's skills.