Another pianist switch for Portland Piano International

A year ago, Portland Opera had to scramble at the last minute to replace ailing opera singers in a couple of production. This year, Portland Piano International is getting hit with pianists who can't make give their concerts. In January, Polina Leschenko bowed out of her scheduled appearance because of serious problems with her knee. Now Olga Kern won't make it to Portland this weekend because of a family emergency.

Fortunately, Portland Piano International's Pat Zagelow and Harold Gray have a knack for finding superb pianists who can fill in at a moment's notice. Last month, they found Conrad Tao, who have a terrific concert in place of Leschenko. Now, for Olga Kern's concert, they have engaged Xu Zhong, an internationally acclaimed pianist and conductor from China.

Here's some information from PPI's press release on Zhong:

Xu Zhong is the founding member and Artistic Director of the China Shanghai International Piano Competition, the Executive Artistic Director of Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, and Music Director of Shanghai Sinfonietta.

Xu Zhong has won numerous prestigious international competitions since 1988, including the first Hamamatsu International Piano Competition, the Santander Paloma O'Shea International Piano Competition, the fifth Tokyo International Piano Competition and the tenth Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow. In addition, besides being the regular guest of Chinese orchestras and presenters, both as a pianist and conductor, he has taken up a concert career across Europe, North America, South America and South-East Asia.

Zhong will perform two different programs on Sunday and Monday. For more information, click here.