BIOGRAPHY
“A performance of surpassing artistry and passion” – American Record Guide
“Exhilarating evening” – The Independent
The British-Vietnamese pianist Tra Nguyen’s performances have been praised as “coruscating” (The Independent), “sophisticated” (Rheinpfalz-Zeitung) and possessing “surpassing artistry and passion” (American Record Guide).
Tra Nguyen’s keen sense of exploration has led her to record an extensive discography of Joachim Raff with music written for piano solo and works for piano with orchestra. The series of nine recordings introduced many world premiere performances which were released on Grand Piano (Naxos) and Sterling Records to claim rave reviews from leading international music magazines (including BBC Music Magazines, International Piano, Gramophone, Klassik-Heute, Ritmo). Two recordings from the series were selected as Album of the Week by The Independent, UK.
Tra Nguyen was born in Vietnam to an artistic family. Her first memories of music were listening to Bach violin solo sonatas and partitas from her father’s lessons. She made her first public solo appearance at the Hanoi Grand Opera House at age of ten and shortly thereafter gave her first concerto performance of Mozart piano concerto KV488. She continued to engage the audience at prestigious venues worldwide with Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Cadogan Hall, Tokyo Opera City, Hong Kong City Hall amongst others. Tra Nguyen has also given live broadcast of her performances on BBC Radio 3, Hong Kong Radio and Television 4, National Vietnam Television. Her recordings have been broadcast over major international classical music radio networks.
Tra Nguyen’s imaginative programming combines the core repertoire with lesser-known works. Her Raff recording series has led her to work with distinguished orchestras and conductors – notably with the Prague Radio Symphony, the Norrland Opera Symphony under batons of Kerry Stratton, Roland Kluttig and Andrea Quinn. Her recent concert repertoire includes Schubert’s complete piano sonatas, Liszt’s 12 Grand Etudes S.137 and a large number of piano concerti. As chamber music partner, Tra has collaborated with German baritone Benjamin Appl and clarinettist Sabine Grofmeier in performances and on recording platforms. Tra is currently working with award-winning Israeli-French-British composer Nimrod Borenstein for further solo recordings and performances of his works.
Tra Nguyen started her music education at the Hanoi Conservatory with Professor Tran Thu Ha before continuing her studies at the Gnessin Music College and the Moscow Conservatory with professor Lev Naumov. She then moved to London to pursue her post-graduate education at the Royal Academy of Music with professor Christopher Elton. She is now an Associate of the Royal Academy of London.
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