Zhu Xiao-Mei is a distinguished Chinese-French pianist renowned for her profound interpretations of Johann Sebastian Bach's works. Born in Shanghai in 1949, Zhu's connection to the piano began at a tender age, setting her on a path that would be as turbulent as it was musically rewarding. Her early promise was dramatically interrupted by the Cultural Revolution, during which she was sent to a labor camp for five years. This experience, however, did not extinguish her passion for music but rather deepened her affinity for the works of Bach, which became a source of solace and spiritual sustenance.
After the Cultural Revolution, Zhu Xiao-Mei left China for the United States, and later settled in France, where she continued her musical education at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. Her career has been marked by a contemplative, deeply personal approach to music, earning her critical acclaim and a steadfast international following. Among her most lauded recordings are the interpretations of Bach's "Goldberg Variations," a work she has performed extensively around the world, which showcases her unique blend of technical precision and emotional depth. Her discography reflects a profound embodiment of Baroque music sensibility, yet also includes insightful renderings of classical and romantic composers, evident in her performances of Scarlatti, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, and Schumann. Zhu Xiao-Mei's enduring devotion to Bach's repertoire, particularly the "Goldberg Variations," "The Well-Tempered Clavier," and the "French Suites," has placed her among the most respected and significant Bach interpreters of her generation.
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