from gamelan to grand piano 

A Piano Recital by Young Steinway Artist, Jonathan Kuo.

23^rd April 2025 | 19:00 hrs.

Steinway Thailand presents From Gamelan to Grand Piano, a piano recital by Young Steinway Artist, Jonathan Kuo. This program features Godowsky’s Java Suite and Stravinsky’s Petrouchka — two masterworks that tell stories through music. From the rich soundscapes of Indonesia to theatrical fantasy, this event promises an evening of vivid imagery and evocative experience — told entirely through the finest Steinway & Sons piano.

Program

Java Suite (Op. 15): Complete List of Movements (1925)

Leopold Godowsky (1870 - 1938)

Book I

I. Gamelan (D-flat major)
II. Wayang-Purwa (Puppet Shadow Plays) (E major)
III. Hari Besaar (The Great Day – Festival) (F-sharp minor)

Book II

IV. Chattering Monkeys at the Sacred Lake of Wendit (A-flat major)
V. Boro-Budur in Moonlight (G-flat major)
VI. The Bromo Volcano and the Sand Sea at Daybreak (F major)

Book III

VII. Three Dances (G-sharp minor, B major, A-flat major)
VIII. The Gardens of Buitenzorg (B major)
IX. In the Streets of Old Batavia (G major)

Book IV

X. In the Kraton (C-sharp minor)
XI. The Ruined Water Castle at Djokja (E-flat minor)
XII. A Court Pageant in Solo (Midnight) (D-flat major)

- The suite progresses through vivid depictions of Javanese landscapes, rituals, and folklore, blending Godowsky’s virtuosic piano writing with gamelan-inspired textures.  
- Key contrasts and subtitles (e.g., "Bromo Volcano," "Shadow Puppets") highlight the work’s narrative and cultural depth.  
- Performances typically follow this order, though encores or variations may occur depending on the pianist’s interpretation

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Three Movements from Petrushka (1921) 

Igor Stravinsky (1882 - 1971)

I. Danse Russe (Russian Dance)
II. Chez Pétrouchka (Petrushka's Room)
III. La Semaine Grasse (The Shrovetide Fair)
 

Composed originally as a ballet in 1911, Petrushka tells the tragic tale of a sentient puppet caught in a love triangle. Stravinsky’s 1921 piano transcription distills the orchestral work’s vivid drama into three technically dazzling movements, each reflecting key scenes from the ballet. While preserving the ballet’s theatrical essence, the piano version reimagines its kaleidoscopic textures through percussive brilliance, rhythmic ferocity, and startling dissonances, demanding virtuosic precision from the performer.  

I. Danse Russe (Russian Dance) 

The opening movement bursts with the exuberance of the ballet’s carnival scene. Jagged rhythms, driving syncopations, and folk-inspired motifs evoke a festive crowd, with the piano mimicking balalaikas and bustling energy. Brutal octaves and cascading runs paint a whirlwind of color, juxtaposing primal force with playful lyricism.  

II. Chez Pétrouchka (Petrushka's Room)

A haunting portrait of the puppet’s despair, this movement contrasts fractured melodies and the iconic “Petrushka chord” (clashing C major and F-sharp major triads) with moments of fragile introspection. Sputtering trills, jarring clusters, and sudden dynamic shifts mirror the protagonist’ turmoil, blending pathos with grotesque humor.  

III. La Semaine Grasse (The Shrovetide Fair)

The finale plunges listeners back into the chaotic fairground. Frenetic dances, swirling chromatic scales, and fragments of folk tunes collide in a riot of rhythmic complexity. The piano becomes an orchestra, evrolling crowds, drumming rhythms, and a spectral waltz before building to a thunderous, dissonant close.  

Stravinsky’s transcription transforms orchestral spectacle into a pianistic tour de force, capturing the ballet’s raw emotion and kaleidoscopic scenes through relentless innovation. A masterclass in texture and rhythm, it challenges the performer to conjure both intimacy and grandeur, ensuring Petrushka’s magic thrives beyond the stage.

BIOGRAPHY

Jonathan Kuo, an accomplished pianist, began his musical journey at age seven under the guidance of Iswargia Renardis Sudarno. His dedication to the piano has since flourished into a dynamic career marked by performances across Asia and beyond. Recognized early for his talent, Jonathan earned accolades in several international competitions during his formative years, including the ASEAN International Chopin Piano Competition in Kuala Lumpur and the Kawai Youth International Piano Competition in Wuhan. His artistic growth was further nurtured through masterclasses with distinguished artists such as Alexander Kobrin, Boris Petrushansky, Stephen Hough, and others.  

In 2018, Jonathan was honored as an Indonesian Young Steinway Artist, a testament to his artistic maturity. He has since captivated audiences with solo and concerto performances, showcasing works by Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninoff. Recent highlights include a 2022 performance of Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto with the Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra, Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos with the Jakarta Sinfonietta, and engagements at venues such as Steinway Gallery Singapore and UCSI Malaysia.  

Continuing his international trajectory, Jonathan performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 at Singapore’s Victoria Concert Hall in March 2024 and will join the Jakarta Concert Orchestra’s European tour, Unity in Diversity, in September 2024. Looking ahead, he is set to record at Berlin’s renowned Teldex Studio under the mentorship of Stanislav Ioudenitch, further solidifying his presence in the classical music world.  

Jonathan’s artistry bridges technical precision with emotive depth, earning him a growing reputation as a compelling interpreter of both classical and romantic repertoire.

LOCATION

Steinway & Sons Showroom
#1F-04 Gaysorn Center, 1 Floor
999 Phloen Chit Rd., Lumpini, Bangkok

For your information and etiquette
- This is a free-seating event.
- Strictly no liquids or food should be brought into the showroom.
- Kindly maintain decorum upon entry and be conscious of your belongings (e.g., bags, rings, watches, cameras) around the instruments. 
- During the performance, kindly wait for the conclusion of a piece or an intermission to enter the audience seating area. 
- Parking validation has to be done directly with the Gaysorn Concierge.