Pianist Wu Han on Schubert's Legacy, Paving the Way for New Generations of Classical Musicians, and That Time She Bought 25 Pounds of Bacon
Wu Han.
Few careers in classical music read as illustriously as that of pianist Wu Han. For more than 50 years, her life has centered around the concert stage, delivering performances of the highest caliber in nearly every corner of the globe.
She once viewed that jet-setting lifestyle as a symbol of success earlier in her career. But these days, in her work as artistic director of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, La Musica Chamber Music Festival, Music@Menlo, and the Society of the Four Arts, Wu Han's mission is to develop the next generation of classical musicians.
"Every time I hear young people with a new idea they're trying to explore, it reminds me of myself when I was their age," Wu Han says on the latest episode of the Classical Post podcast. "It really makes me feel the responsibility and the inspiration to want to move this art form forward. The next generation, their devotion and love for classical music, is where I find a lot of inspiration."
That drive to create incredible performance opportunities for young musicians is clear when looking at the artist roster for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's Winter Festival. Over the course of five concerts exploring the music and profound legacy of Franz Schubert, a mix of seasoned performers and rising stars will share the stage — including pianist Gilbert Kalish, violist Paul Neubauer, singers Joélle Harvey and Nikolay Borchev, and the Escher String Quartet.
In this episode, Wu Han and I talk more about the Winter Festival and her unique approach to programming and artist curation. Plus, she shares how ballet and the art of Renaissance Italy inspire her creativity, her favorite place in New York City's Chinatown for Cantonese fried crab, and the very important role bacon plays in her household.
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