Das Lebewohl Jiaxin Min

• Franz Liszt (1811-1886): Ballade No. 2 in B Minor, S. 171
• 1 Liszt: Ballade No. 2 in B Minor, S. 171 14:43
• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81a "Das Lebewohl":
• 2 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81a "Das Lebewohl": I. Das Lebewohl. Adagio - Allegro 06:37
• 3 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81a "Das Lebewohl": II. Abwesenheit. Andante espressivo 03:56
• 4 Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-Flat Major, Op. 81a "Das Lebewohl": III. Das Wiedersehen. Vivacissimamente 05:51
• Samuel Barber (1910-1981): Piano Sonata, Op. 26:
• 5 Barber: Piano Sonata, Op. 26: I. Allegro energico 07:15
• 6 Barber: Piano Sonata, Op. 26: II. Allegro vivace e leggero 02:20
• 7 Barber: Piano Sonata, Op. 26: III. Adagio mesto 05:46
• 8 Barber: Piano Sonata, Op. 26: IV. Fuga. Allegro con spirito 04:51
• Total Runtime 51:19

Info for Das Lebewohl

Introducing Jiaxin Min in her debut album, this recording marks the arrival of a compelling new voice on the international piano scene. Emerging as an audience favourite from the Queen Elisabeth Competition she combines expressive intensity, clarity of thought and a deeply personal artistic vision. Centred around the idea of farewell and reunion, the programme brings together Beethoven's intimate Sonata Lebewohl ('Les Adieux'), Liszt's dramatic Ballade No. 2, and Barber's powerful Piano Sonata. Through these landmark works, Jiaxin Min explores themes of absence, transformation and rediscovery, drawing on her own personal journey through music and returns to the stage. Balancing virtuosity with introspection and emotional depth, this first album reveals an artist of rare maturity and personality.

Jiaxin Min, piano

Jiaxin Min
Shanghai-born pianist Jiaxin Min gained international recognition in 2025 as a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, where her poetic and compelling performances earned her wide acclaim from audiences in Belgium and beyond. Her interpretation of a Mozart concerto in the semi-final round was selected for inclusion in the official 2025 Piano Edition recording, and she was invited to give a solo recital at Flagey in Brussels. That same year, under the mentorship of renowned professors Dmitri Alexeev and Vitaly Pisarenko, Jiaxin graduated from the Royal College of Music in London, completing the Artist Diploma—a highly selective postgraduate program for exceptional solo performers.

Jiaxin began winning competitions at a remarkably young age. In her second year of piano studies, she won Second Prize at the Shanghai Young Artists Competition, followed by First Prize at the Shanghai Arts Festival the next year. In 2002, she appeared on the “Five Star Tournament” TV program and successfully defended her title ten times in a row. In 2004, she was named one of Shanghai’s “Top 10 Young Talents.” Her later accolades include Third Prize at the Fontainebleau Prix Ravel, First Prize and the Liszt Award at the 75th Steinway International Piano Competition, Fourth Prize and the Russian Art Special Prize at the e-Piano International Competition, and First Prize at the Cooper Piano Festival Competition.

In 2012, Jiaxin made her national debut at the Shanghai Concert Hall, an event introduced by FM94.7 of Shanghai Radio. A subsequent concert in Spain marked her first international breakthrough. She has since been invited to perform at renowned festivals such as the Cooper Piano Festival, Kneisel Hall, Taos School of Music, Focus! Festival, and the Fontainebleau School of Music and Fine Arts. She was also selected to perform with orchestra at both the 57th and 60th anniversary concerts of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music as a representative of outstanding young artists.

Jiaxin began studying piano at the age of four and was admitted to the Shanghai Elementary School of Music affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory in 2005, ranking first in her entrance exam. She studied with Professor Ting Zhou, the Vice President of the school. In 2008, she was admitted directly to the Shanghai Middle School of Music without entrance exams. During her studies, she won First Prize at the Hong Kong-Asia International Piano Competition and Second Prize at the Third KAWAI Asia Piano Competition, and received multiple scholarships including the Doctor Lily Niu Scholarship and the Shanghai “Star Program” Scholarship.

After graduating from high school, Jiaxin received full scholarship offers from several top conservatories and chose to attend The Juilliard School in New York. There, she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees under the guidance of Professor Sergei Babayan and Dr. Matti Raekallio, while also working with distinguished artists such as Yoheved Kaplinsky, Robert Levin, Marc-André Hamelin, Robert McDonald, and Philippe Biancon

Booklet for Das Lebewohl