Fisherman’s Harvest Song - Australian-Chinese violin sensation Christian Li releases his second track

Australian-Chinese violin sensation Christian Li releases his second track, ‘Fisherman’s Harvest Song’, out now on Decca Classics. To accompany the release, Christian features in a brand new video featuring footage from his recording sessions, filmed earlier this year.

‘Fisherman’s Harvest Song’ is a traditional folk tune inspired by the fisherman’s harvest in the South China Sea and adapted by contemporary Chinese composer Li Zili. Speaking about the selection of the piece, Christian says, “I feel very connected to my heritage when I play this piece. The beautiful melody in the opening shows the Fisherman’s strong emotion after he returns to his village after spending time at sea. I love being able to share his song through the singing quality of the violin!”

Like many other 12-year-old schoolboys, Christian enjoys swimming, football and reading, and appreciating the outdoor lifestyle of his home in Melbourne. But quite unlike most pre-teens, Christian’s gift for the violin surpasses that of even the most skilled soloist.

Born in Melbourne in 2007, Christian first picked up a violin aged five. He came to international attention in 2018 when he became the youngest-ever winner of the Menuhin Competition, winning the joint Junior 1st Prize in Geneva, aged only 10. Christian performed a movement of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with a professional orchestra, play-conducting from the violin. Videos of his performances have since achieved millions of views on YouTube.

At the age of nine, Christian won First Prize in the violin category of the Young Artist Semper Music International Competition in Italy and gave many solo and chamber music performances as part of the Semper Music International Festival and Summer Academy. He also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York in the American Protégé Showcase 10th Anniversary concert. In 2014 he won First Prize in the “Golden Beijing” violin competition in China and in 2013, aged just five, Christian was chosen for a TV commercial in China that features him playing the violin.

With a dream to be a touring soloist with the world’s greatest orchestras, Christian finds any nerves disappear once he steps out onto the stage. He enjoys listening to movie soundtracks by composer John Williams, watching sci-fi films about space exploration and reading the Harry Potter series – and hopes a visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is on the agenda for his next visit to the UK.