The Pangea Piano Project intends to be a reflection on music and cultural identity. Pianists Ya-Ting Liou (from Taiwan) and Blas González (from Argentina) have become interested in how the inspiration for many musical works has originated in the use of rhythms, melodies, or textures that are representative of the musical practices of certain countries. This inspiration is a consequence of either studies done by composers on the music of his own country, or as an answer to their discovery of the musical or artistic characteristic of other cultures. In additiotion to the standard piano repertoire, the pianists include in their recitals works by contemporary composers who express their national identity in a less overt and more symbolic way. Their style is related to the development of distinctive aesthetic ideas, in art music of their different countries, without resigning the idea of being universal.  Therefore, the project features a varied repertoire which includes Liszt’s Years of Pilgrimage, Ligeti’s Etudes and Sonatina for Four Hands, Debussy’s Preludes, Godowsky’s Java Suite, and new works commissioned to composers from the most diverse cultures: Turkey, the United States, Argentina, New Zealand, China, and Taiwan.

The performers bring their expertise to this original undertaking that builds a bridge between the masterworks of classical music and a less conventional repertoire. Ms. Liou and Mr. González, who have both been featured in many recital halls and reviewed by The Chronicle (New Zealand) and De Hoy (Chacabuco, Argentina), pour their experience gained from a professional trajectory that combines solo performing, teaching, and collaborating with other musicians into this project. The Pangea Piano Project has already toured in Argentina, Taiwan, and New Zealand.

In addition to performing recitals, the Project has as a purpose the realization of interdisciplinary and educational activities that promote the idea of opening up the space of classical music to innovative ideas. Therefore, in many performances, visual artworks are utilized to stress a topic that is profiled in the concert, or to establish a kinesthetic correspondence to the message of the music. In Taipei, artist Keng-I Liu collaborated with the Project, and in November of 2007 a concert featured collaborations with artists from the Kansas City Arts Institute. In Buenos Aires and in Taiwan, Liou and Gonzalez have taught Masterclasses on the topics of pianistic interpretation and collaboration.

Their first CD, which includes music by Liszt, Debussy, Snyder, Tarrats, Özdemir, Godowsky, and Cheung, is under production.