Shen Wenyu, the youngest prizewinner in the history of the Queen Elisabeth International Piano Competition, will give a piano recital at Poly Theater on July 24.

    Shen is regarded as one of the three extraordinary piano talents in China, together with Li Yundi and Lang Lang.

    He is now associate professor of piano at Shenzhen University and resident pianist of Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.

    Born to an ordinary family in Chongqing, Shen began studying piano at the age of 6. He began studies with Professor Zheng Daxin, one of China’s most renowned piano teachers, and learned Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No.23 in A Major, K. 488” at the age of 7.

    When he was only 10, Shen performed Chopin’s two piano concertos, and was invited to South Africa twice to give public recitals. Many dub him the “Second Mozart.”

    Shen won the 2nd prize at the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition in Belgium, and also received the “Arthur de Greef” prize in 2003, becoming the youngest prizewinner in the competition’s history.

    He also won the first prize at the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition in Los Angeles, the United States, in 2005.

    He has collaborated with over 30 orchestras around the world with a broad repertoire including more than 100 hours of solo and concerto.

    Time: 8 p.m., July 24

    Tickets: 20-100 yuan

    Reservations: 8637-1698

    Venue: Shenzhen Poly Theater, intersection of Wenxin Road 5 and Houhaibin Road, Nanshan District (南山区后海滨路与文心五路交界处深圳保利剧院)

    Buses: 70, 80, K113, 204, 217, 226, 230, 245, 369, 390

    (Tina Chen)