From piano to vocals, Chen Yu perfects her pitch

Pianist and soprano Chen Yu released her latest album in Beijing on Jan 15, and hopes to captivate listeners with her musical versatility.

On Yu Zhen Jin Sheng ("The Sound of Jade and the Resonance of Gold"), Chen not only sings but plays the piano.

The 24 tracks range from beloved Chinese art songs like Three Wishes of the Rose by Huang Zi, to classic Chinese poems set to music, including the Tang Dynasty (618-907) poem Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night by Zhang Ji.

Chinese art songs are a combination of Chinese classical or contemporary poetry and Western composing techniques.

Recording the album was no easy task. Chen spent eight months perfecting every note and phrase to ensure the emotional depth of the music and the poetry were fully realized.

"As a singer, my job isn't just to project my voice, but to bring the stories behind them to life and enable the listener to feel the emotion and history in every word," she says.

"It's not just about singing or playing the piano," she continues. "It's about creating something where both the voice and the piano are one, where the two come together to tell a story. This album is my way of merging my love for singing and playing into a single creation — something that I've always dreamed of doing."

Chen's musical journey began at the age of 13 when she first discovered the power of songs. She also learned to play the piano as a child. After graduating from the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing with a major in vocal performance, she joined the China National Opera& Dance Drama Theater in 2002 as a solo singer, and also dedicated herself to collaborative piano (playing the piano as accompaniment).

"Her voice was impeccable, but it was her playing that caught my attention," says soprano Wan Shanhong, one of the judges to recognize Chen's potential during her audition. "Back then, we didn't always have a great pianist to fill the position of collaborative piano in the theater, but Chen was one of those rare performers who could seamlessly pair her voice with her playing. This album displays her artistry. She is a dynamic force who weaves together two musical worlds — voice and piano."

Chen began accompanying other artists in rehearsals and quickly became a sought-after opera coach, eventually leading over 50 productions of operas including Aida, Tosca, and La Boheme. Her precision, sensitivity, and deep understanding of vocal interpretation quickly earned her fame, allowing her to collaborate with established singers such as tenors Dai Yuqiang, Wei Song, and Warren Mok, who performed together as "China's Three Tenors". Her decadelong experience of working alongside them helped hone her mastery of both voice and piano.

"I had the chance to work closely with many great singers, which allowed me to observe and learn from them. Although I performed as a pianist for many years, I have always wanted to sing," Chen says.

The turning point came after a decade of being Dai's pianist. In 2018, after years of dedication to the instrument, she felt the urge to develop her voice and decided to study vocal performance at Sangmyung University in South Korea. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in vocal arts there.

"I am very happy that my decision has paid off with this new album. Besides bringing new life to ancient texts, I also wanted to create a new way to experience Chinese art songs — where both the singing and the piano playing are by one performer," she says.