Born: Shanghai, China

The Chines pianist, Zhu Xiao-Mei, was born into a family of artists. Starting with the music at a very young age, she already played the piano in radio and television in Beijing when she was only eight. At ten years, she entered into the National School of Music for exceptionally gifted children. She made there brilliant studies, stopped by the years of the Cultural revolution, including five years in a working camp, where, despite difficulties, she managed to practice the piano in hiding-place. In 1979 she left Chine for the USA, where she obtained the highest distinctions.

In 1985, Zhu Xiao-Mei arrived to Paris and decided to stay there. She has given concerts all over France, as well as in Europe, in South America, Russia and Australia. Since 1994, she is regularly invited by the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris and the Théâtre Colon of Buenos Aires, and gives recitals which are unanimously greeted by the press. She is also invited by many festivals, such as Roque d’Anthéron and La Folle Journée de Nantes.

Zhu Xiao-Mei recorded the Goldberg Variations (BWV 988) and the complete of Partitas of Bach, 17 Sonatas of Scarlatti, Davidsbündlertänze and Kinderszenen by Schumann, as well as three albums of the complete works of Schubert for four-hands piano with Alexandre Tharaud. Zhu Xiao-Mei shares her time between her teaching activities at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique of Paris and her many concerts in France and abroad.

Source: Zhu Xiao-Mei Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (October 2006)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (October 2006)

Zhu Xiao-Mei: Short Biography | Recordings of Non-Vocal Works
Reviews of Non-Vocal Recordings: Zhu plays the Goldbergs

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