YUNDI: Lunar New Year Time

YUNDI is known worldwide for being the youngest pianist to win the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition, getting the award at just 18 years old. His interpretation of classical music is celebrated globally for its unique poetic and romantic tones. To usher in the new year, Apple Music invites the pianist to share his exclusive Lunar New Year playlist, as well as his experience of the festive season. “Lunar New Year means family reunions and a fresh start,” YUNDI says. And when he was a child, the pianist knew the best things about Lunar New Year come in small packages. “My favourite New Year’s memory is that of Chinese parents giving ‘lucky money’ to their kids. I always looked forward to it when I was a kid,” he tells Apple Music. Despite his hectic schedule touring the world, YUNDI still leaves room for the Lunar New Year essentials. “My personal Lunar New Year tradition is eating jiaozi—Chinese dumplings. Families reunite and eat jiaozi in China on Lunar New Year’s Eve. As I grew into adulthood, sometimes I had to work on Lunar New Year’s Eve and couldn’t get together with my family. Jiaozi reminds me of precious family time.” This year, he’s celebrating with a playlist of classical works and pop favourites that equally convey his personal connections with Lunar New Year. “Lunar New Year stands for several different meanings to me—family, hope and happiness. The songs I chose bring out these feelings when I listen to them. My playlists are always named for a particular period of time, like this one—my LNY time.” Of course, YUNDI begins with a bit of Chopin, and he has a particular reason to celebrate with Chopin this year. “My theme song for 2020’s CNY is my new album, Chopin: Piano Concertos,” he affirms. His playlist also includes masterworks from Mahler, Bach, Beethoven and Schubert, along with some pop classics from Faye Wong and Jay Chou. Before you listen to the classical wonderland of YUNDI’s playlist, here are his holiday blessings: “My wish for you is ‘good fortune’. In Chinese it’s one character, ‘Fu’. To me, it does not only mean success in one’s career, it’s a state of satisfaction and contentment in all directions. So here I wish for everyone to have good fortune.”