Four composers with four distinct voices share a musical legacy featuring Chi-Chen Wu and Sam Ou of the Formosa Duo.

The Romantic era, a period of profound emotional expression in classical music, left an indelible mark on the world of composition. Four composers who exemplify the Romantic era are Robert Schumann, Astor Piazzolla, Gabriel Fauré, and Frédéric Chopin. We are honored to feature Sam Ou, faculty member and assistant string chairperson at New England Conservatory's Preparatory School, and Chi-Chen Wu, Associate Professor of Piano and Chair of Keyboard Area at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on this unique program, along with Boston College alumna violinist Priscilla Lee '27,

Schumann's Adagio and Allegro glance into the composer's introspective soul. With its lyrical melody and contemplative pace, the piece invites listeners to journey through a landscape of emotions. Piazzolla's La Muerte del Angel, featuring violinist Priscilla Lee, blends the passionate rhythms of tango with the expressive language of the era. Commemorating his one-hundredth birthday, Fauré's Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 showcases the composer's ability to create a profoundly intimate and melancholic atmosphere as the interplay between cello and piano creates a sense of longing and reflection. Finally, Chopin's Sonata for Piano and Cello is a tour de force of technical virtuosity and emotional depth. This powerful work displays the composer's passionate and expressive style.

Romantic-era pieces connect with audiences of all ages and offer musicians a valuable learning opportunity. Contrasting with the fast-paced, often superficial world we live in, the expressive nature and emotional depth of Romantic-era music can inspire musicians to develop a deeper appreciation for the power of music to connect us to our shared humanity.

More about the Formosa Duo

Since earning their respective doctorate of musical arts degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC), pianist Chi-Chen Wu and cellist Sam Ou have been collaborating as the Formosa Duo for over two decades. While respectively maintaining music faculty positions at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and NEC’s Preparatory School & School of Continuing Education, Ms. Wu and Mr. Ou have individually appeared as recitalists, chamber musicians, and concerto soloists in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Poland, and Bermuda. Music festivals in which they have collectively participated include Aspen, Tanglewood, Sarasota, Musicorda, Santa Fe, La Jolla, and Monadnock.

As a duo, Ms. Wu and Mr. Ou studied with Irma Vallecillo and Laurence Lesser at NEC. The diverse repertoire that they have performed encompasses a wide stylistic span, from the Classical and Romantic periods, through the 20th century and into the present. This includes works by Barber, Beethoven, Boccherini, Bolcom, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, de Falla, Dohnanyi, Fauré, Grieg, Tyzen Hsiao, John Kramer, Martinu, Mendelssohn, Jessie Montgomery, Muczynski, Arvo Pärt, Piazzolla, Poulenc, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Saint-Saëns, Schubert, Schumann, Cyril Scott, Shostakovich, Reza Vali, and Kurt Weill. Particularly, contemporary music is a passion for both musicians. Ms. Wu has premiered the piano version of John Harbison’s The Great Gatsby, The Poet and The War by Norber Palej (world premiere), and Ralf Gawlick’s Best Regards, Bruno (world premiere). Notable contemporary music performances include Concertino for Piano, Winds and Timpani by George Perle and Malcolm Williamson’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Mr. Ou has performed Yehudi Wyner's Tanz and Maissele with violinist Lucy Chapman and the Pulitzer prize-winning composer at the piano in New York City. He has also performed works by Ralph Shapey, Scott Wheeler, Lee Hyla, and Larry Bell in Boston’s Jordan Hall. He soloed with the Boston Civic Symphony in the world premiere performance of Mr. Bell’s Cello Concerto. As the Formosa Duo, Ms. Wu and Mr. Ou performed the world premiere of John Kramer's Sonata for Piano and Cello. They also performed Jessie Montgomery’s Peace transcribed for cello and piano. During the pandemic, the Duo maintained fervent support of contemporary music and collaborated with student composers from the University of Florida, culminating in a final recording project of their compositions, all recorded and edited remotely.

Emerging from the pandemic, the Duo has performed in Wyoming, Colorado, and Massachusetts, with several upcoming concerts in the Boston area this year.