“A Transgenre Tale” from the cross-dressing Abbot François-Timoléon de Choisy (1644-1724) and the celebration of 17th-transcriptions for the harpsichord in France
As a glance into 17th-century French literature, history, politics, music, and gender studies, this solo lecture recital is based on music inspired by and/or related to the intriguing Abbot de Choisy; a prolific author who was also a close confidant of King Louis XIV. In addition, he also led a scandalous life as Mme. Sancy / Comtesse des Barres, who attended, performed, and hosted numerous musical soirées for the nobility dressed as a woman.
The choice of program will be explained throughout the recital itself, as a part of the “storytelling”/lecture recital. The narration and the music are intertwined.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Heidi Tsai, equally virtuosic in harpsichord, fortepiano and piano, performs regularly on all three instruments. Her versatile musicality brings life to different genres of repertoire from 17th to 21st centuries. She has been featured as a soloist on both the fortepiano and the harpsichord in Europe and the United States. In an orchestral setting, she has collaborated with Christian Zacharias, Giovanni Antonini, Leonard Slatkin, and Robert King, Stanley Ritchie, and Nigel North. Ms. Tsai has been invited to play in major concert series and music festivals throughout the United States, Central America, Asia and Europe.
In addition to performing solo recitals and appearing with orchestras, Ms. Tsai is frequently sought after as a sensitive and initiating chamber and continuo player. Heidi Tsai is also the co-founder and artistic director of the early music group Barcelona Barroc, their most recent project, Chiaoscuro, involved 8 musicians, a tour in Spain, and a finished recording. In 2018, her solo fortepiano recording made its debut under the recording label b# Productions in Berlin, it had received numerous warm reviews in Germany and Japan.
She has taught both piano and harpsichord at Boston University, Boston Conservatory, Arizona State University and Indiana University. From 2002-2019, Heidi Tsai has been on the faculty in the early music department at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC) in Barcelona, and the Conservatoire in Pau, France.
