'Flawless performance'

In the summer of 2006, Russian pianist Alexander Paley thrilled Beijing audiences with his dazzling technique and convincing and personal interpretations of an extensive repertoire at that year's French Piano Festival held at the Forbidden City Concert Hall.

On Sunday, Paley will return to the same venue to give a recital featuring Beethoven's Piano Sonata No 23 in F Minor Appassionata, Rachmaninoff's Etudes and Weber's Sonata No 1.

Born in Kishiniev, Moldavia, Paley began playing the piano at the age of six. He gave his first recital at the age of 13 and at 16, won the National Music Competition of Moldavia. In 1981, he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory. He went on to win major awards, including First Prize at the Leipzig International Bach Competition in 1984 and the Bosendorfer Prize in 1986.