Biography

This research project raises the performance study of the main piano works of Chinese-French composer Qigang Chen, which were composed at the beginning of the 21st century. Chen was deeply influenced by his tutelage under Olivier Messiaen, meanwhile, grounded in Peking Opera due to his childhood training, Chen's compositions embrace aspects of Chinese traditional opera and integrate them with contemporary Western musical concepts. This study adopts a multimodal perspective, considering intertextual dialogue, scenic movements, and dynamic timbre combinations. This research investigates how symbolic and multisensory elements, influenced by Peking Opera and Messiaen's synesthetic perspective, impact interpretation and performance. The research aims to propose strategies for cohesive multimodal performances of Chen's piano works, including incorporating audio-visual interactions into live performances, devising non-verbal movements in collaboration with percussionists, and exploring stage space and lighting. It also assessed the impact of multimodal performance on audience experience and cultural perception, thus providing new perspectives on music performance and cultural studies.