Shaped by her experience coming of age during the Cultural Revolution, Chen Yi’s early influences included Chinese traditional music and Western classical music. She is a master of contemporary technique and a strong advocate for music’s power to connect audiences of different cultural backgrounds. The spirited Curtis 20/21 Ensemble will take on Chen’s impressive chamber works, including the evocative Happy Rain on a Spring Night.
Major support for Composer Portraits is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.