Anjulie Chen

Leoš Janáček (1854-1928)

In The Mists (Janáček)

i Andante, ii Molto adagio, iii Andantino, iv Presto

In the Mists is a piano cycle by Czech composer Leoš Janáček, the last of his more substantial solo works for the instrument. It was composed in 1912, some years after Janáček had suffered the death of his daughter Olga and while his operas were still being rejected by the Prague opera houses. All four parts of the cycle are largely written in "misty" keys with five or six flats; characteristic of the cycle are the frequent changes of meter. Czech musicologist Jiří Zahrádka compared the atmosphere of the cycle to impressionist works, in particular those of Claude Debussy.

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Piano Sonata in E minor, D566 (Schubert)

i Moderato, ii Allegretto, iii Scherzo: Allegro vivace – Trio, (iv Rondo, D 506)

The Piano Sonata in E minor D 566 by Franz Schubert is a sonata for solo piano written in June 1817. The original manuscript appeared to lack a finale. Ludwig Scheibler (1848–1921) was the first to suggest in 1905 that the Rondo in E, D.506 might be that movement. The British composer and musicologist Kathleen Dale produced the first edition using this suggestion in 1948. The 1976 Henle edition by Paul Badura-Skoda followed the same practice.

Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937)

Le Tombeau de Couperin (Ravel)

i Prélude, ii Fugue, iii Forlane, iv Rigaudon, v Menuet, vi Toccata

Le Tombeau de Couperin (The Grave of Couperin) is a suite for solo piano by Maurice Ravel, composed between 1914 and 1917. The piece is in six movements, based on those of a traditional Baroque suite. Each movement is dedicated to the memory of a friend of the composer (or in one case, two brothers) who had died fighting in World War I. Ravel also produced an orchestral version of the work in 1919, although this omitted two of the original movements.

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Vier Klavierstücke, Op. 119 (Brahms)

i Intermezzo in B minor, ii Intermezzo in E minor, iii Intermezzo in C major, iv Rhapsody in E♭ major

The Four Pieces for Piano Op. 119, are character pieces for piano composed by Johannes Brahms in 1893. The collection is the last composition for solo piano by Brahms. Together with the six pieces from Op. 118, Op. 119 was premiered in London in January 1894.

Performers

Anjulie Chen - Piano

German pianist Anjulie Chen is regarded as one of the most promising young artists of her generation, increasingly establishing herself as a musician of remarkable sensitivity and artistic maturity. Her playing has been praised for its “subtlety, stylishness and warmth” and described as being “full of poise, elegance and feeling.”

Equally at home as a soloist and chamber musician, Anjulie has performed throughout Germany as well as in Italy, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Japan. Recent and forthcoming highlights include appearances at the Chiltern Arts Festival, the Schiermonnikoog Chamber Music Festival and the Chigiana International Festival & Summer Academy in Siena, her Munich debut at the Irenensaal and upcoming debut at Bergson Kunstkraftwerk, concerto performances with the Blaze Ensemble and the Bushey Symphony Orchestra under the baton of George Vass, as well as collaborations with section leaders of the Munich Radio Orchestra and performances with the Polymnia Piano Quartet.

In 2022, Anjulie released her debut chamber music album on Linn Records, featuring works by Igor Stravinsky in collaboration with conductor and soprano Barbara Hannigan, the Royal Academy of Music and the Juilliard School. She was a semi-finalist at the Birmingham International Piano Competition 2022, won Third Prize at the Lagny-sur-Marne International Piano Competition in 2019, and was selected to represent the Royal Academy of Music at the intercollegiate Sheepdrove Piano Competition in 2024.

Particularly drawn to the music of Schubert and the French repertoire, Anjulie has worked with distinguished artists including Anne Queffélec, Dame Imogen Cooper and Thomas Adès. Alongside her solo activities, she maintains a vibrant chamber music career. She is a member of the Polymnia Piano Quartet, which receives guidance from Silke Avenhaus and Dirk Mommertz (Fauré Quartett) and has been selected to join the chamber music program at the University for Music and Performing Arts Munich from October 2026. She has also developed a particular affinity for the viola repertoire. As pianist of the CHESA Duo with violist Xin He, she has worked closely with leading violists including Tabea Zimmermann, Timothy Ridout, Lawrence Power, Garth Knox and Martin Outram.

Originally from Munich, Anjulie studied with Thomas Böckheler at the University for Music and Performing Arts Munich before continuing her studies with Colin Stone at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she completed her Bachelor of Music, Master of Arts and Professional Diploma degrees with First-Class Honours throughout. She was awarded the Diploma of the Royal Academy of Music (DipRAM) for an outstanding final Master's performance. A two-time recipient of scholarships from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), she also received the Help Musicians Postgraduate Award in 2024.