<p>LI Siqian</p><p>Li Siqian is a very professional young pianist. Her performance is impressive, obviously she doesn’t know real technical problems. And she seems to be totally conscious about what she is doing (I can imagine she will be an excellent piano professor in 20 years...!).</p><p>Her expression, her sound are always noble and well balanced – for my feeling even too well. I’d like to encourage her to be a little less “reasonable”, to take some risks (difficult in front of a microphone...), to be more spontaneous. Sometimes dolce isn’t enough, it has to be dolcissimo. </p><p>The Nocturne could be slightly faster, there should be a movement similar to a Barcarolle, swinging in 2 beats. I know that I’m almost alone with this idea, but I’m always hoping for the impressionistic echo (long pedal, mixed harmonies) from bar 66 (Henle edition). It’s more or less quiet music, but it should not really sound tranquillo.</p><p>Excellent finger work in the Etude, just some small hesitations in the left hand. Actually I don’t need this extremely clear non legato sound in this piece. This is an excellent way to practise, but in the real performance it sounds a bit too careful.  Can be more stormy. I think each piano is written to give us the space for the next crescendo, and it’s never lyrical. So, it’s a very dynamic piece – in both hands.</p><p>A lot of respect for her Liszt. The basic energy for this kind of music must be extremely high. We can go to limits. A few steps further in all directions: from the most poetic grazioso to molto drammatico. Don’t be afraid of contrasts and conflicts.</p>