KIT ARMSTRONG
周善祥
曾獲《紐約時報》讚譽為「一位傑出的鋼琴家」，其演奏兼具成熟格局與年輕果敢氣魄的周善祥，畢業於英國皇家音樂學院。七歲起同時在加州州立大學長灘分校選修物理以及查普曼大學選修作曲，九歲進入猶他州立大學攻讀生物、物理、數學以及音樂。11歲周善祥進入柯蒂斯音樂學院學習鋼琴，同時在賓夕法尼亞大學選修化學和數學。年僅八歲即與長灘巴赫音樂管弦樂團首次合作登台，此後以獨奏家身分與萊比錫布商大廈管弦樂團、倫敦愛樂管弦樂團、北德廣播交響樂團、班堡交響樂團等重要樂團合作；亦身兼作曲家與管風琴家。2010年於德國漢堡獲得以已故指揮家雷納德・伯恩斯坦命名的「伯恩斯坦藝術成就獎」，2011年再獲德國漢諾威藝術成就獎。近年與柏林德意志交響樂團、北德廣播易北愛樂、瑞士溫特圖爾管弦樂團、法蘭克福歌劇暨博物館交響樂團、巴爾的摩交響樂團、東京都交響樂團等合作，並與瑞典室內管弦樂團及柏林古樂學會樂團於歐洲巡演，足跡遍及樂壇重鎮。
一位傑出的鋼琴家。在他獨特的演出之中，結合音樂的成熟度的與青春感。」《紐約時報》
「一位令人驚艷的藝術家，只能被形容是音樂上的奇才。」《南德日報》
“While he commands an awesome technique, primarily he really is a quintessential, sensitive lyricist. Uncorrupted by any historicism, he takes full advantage of the tonal capabilities of the modern piano without surrendering to them. On the basis of a touch that is perpetually full of nuances, this is an approach to music characterized by emotion.”
(Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger)
“Here is a pianist who seems to be on his way to lofty heights.”
(Alfred Brendel)
Described by the New York Times as a “brilliant pianist” who combines “musical maturity and youthful daring in his exceptional playing”, Kit Armstrong performs as a soloist with some of the world’s most famous orchestras while maintaining an active career as a recitalist and composer. Born in 1992, “Armstrong, the amazement-causing artist who can only be described as a musical phenomenon” (Süddeutsche Zeitung) appears today at major international venues such as the Vienna Musikverein, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Berlin Philharmonie, Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, NHK Hall Tokyo and Palais des Beaux-Arts Brussels.
Armstrong collaborates with many of the world’s most sought-after conductors, including among others Christian Thielemann, Herbert Blomstedt, Riccardo Chailly, Kent Nagano, Manfred Honeck, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Mario Venzago, and Robin Ticciati. He has appeared with some of the world’s finest orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, Dresden Staatskapelle, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gewandhaus Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He was artist-in-residence at the 2018 festival edition of Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and “Artist-in-Resonance” at Musikkollegium Winterthur, among other prestigious festivals, orchestras and concert halls.
Born in Los Angeles, Armstrong studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and at the Royal Academy of Music in London. At 7, he started studying composition at Chapman University and physics at California State University, later also chemistry and mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania and mathematics at the Imperial College London. He earned a master’s degree in pure mathematics at the University of Paris VI. Alfred Brendel, who has guided Armstrong as teacher and mentor since 2005, ascribes to him “an understanding of the great piano works that combines freshness and subtlety, emotion and intellect”. Their relationship was captured in the film Set the Piano Stool on Fire by Mark Kidel.
