For her latest release on the Steinway & Sons label, Zhenni Li-Cohen presents a fascinating album that brings together twelve pieces drawn from the rich and diverse cultural heritage of China. 

This deeply personal collection explores the many ways Chinese history, tradition, storytelling, art, and music have shaped the country’s musical landscape.

On October 2, 2026 Steinway & Sons releases Zhenni Li-Cohen's newest album, Legend of the Phoenix Queen and other tales (STNS 30175). In her introduction to the album Li-Cohen writes:

“I grew up with my father singing traditional songs and playing his erhu around the house, deeply influencing my nascent ears. He had learned to play a variety of traditional Chinese instruments, such as the Chinese flute, xun, and hulusi, during his school years while leading the school’s orchestra. Although I eventually chose to play the piano, the sound of those beautiful yet unique instruments was a big part of my childhood, making this a very meaningful and intimate project for me. During the pandemic, I finally delved into this repertoire that was familiar yet distant to me; I combed through all the music I could find as my parents laboriously scanned everything from their library, page by page, and emailed it to me--often woefully out of order. It was incredibly difficult to choose from so many great works of art, but we finally settled on twelve pieces that represented a rich tapestry of genres and categories, including music containing traditional folk melodies, ancient tales and stories, folk tunes or rituals, and music inspired by historic artworks or reactions to traditional instrumental works.” 

— Zhenni Li-Cohen

 

“Li-Cohen has a fluent legato and a refined sense of rubato and phrasing, coupled with an ability to bring out subtle harmonic surprises. Add to this her tonal richness and her exquisite balance, and you have performances that will keep you enthralled.”

Gramophone

 

“Li-Cohen is an extremely expressive artist. She understands not merely the notes on the page but how they should progress, one following the other, to make coherent musical statements.”

Art Music Lounge
 

“Li-Cohen maintains an impressive fluidity from start to finish, whether in the gentle or the dramatic...refined playing”

La Scena Musicale

“Li-Cohen’s attention to expressive detail was stunning with melodic passages receiving an intense revealing of depth, and surprising twists and turns that kept the listener on the edge of his/her seat….”

Arts Knoxville
 

“The young pianist Zhenni Li-Cohen plays with strong musical commitment and a fine control of nuance, rising to meet passionate moments with aplomb.”

International Piano

Album Credits

Legend of the Phoenix Queen and other tales / Zhenni Li-Cohen • STNS 30175

Release Date: 10/2/2026

Recorded 2025 at Steinway Hall, New York City.
Producer: Jon Feidner
Engineers: Joshua Frey, Lauren Sclafani, Melody Nieun Hwang
Project Coordinator: Renée Oakford
Mixing and Mastering: Daniel Shores

Executive Producers: Eric Feidner, Jon Feidner
Art Direction: Jackie Fugere
Design: Cover to Cover Design, Anilda Carrasquillo

Cover Photo: Brent Calis
Additional Photos of Zhenni Li-Cohen: Sorin Cucui
Piano Technician: John Veitch
Piano: Steinway Model D #607799 (New York)

About the Artist

Hailed as “…an artist of tremendous conviction, who fascinates even as she provokes…“ by Gramophone Magazine, “…a thrillingly good pianist…” by The New Yorker and for her "...big, gorgeous tone and a mesmerizing touch" by The Philadelphia Inquirer,  pianist Zhenni  has appeared as a soloist in such notable venues as Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, D.C’s Smithsonian Museum, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Performing Arts Center, and the Berliner Philharmonie in Germany.  

Zhenni’s recent concerto recording with Marin Alsop and the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra will be released by Pentatone in January 2027. Highly in demand as a concerto soloist, she has appeared with numerous orchestras including the Bergen Philharmonic in Norway, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, Bay Atlantic Symphony, Dominican Republic National Orchestra amongst others.   

Following her critically acclaimed debut album, Mélancholie, Zhenni’s second album for the Steinway & Sons label, A Letter, featured works by the Ukrainian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz. It was praised by Gramophone as “the most consistently beautiful Bortkiewicz recording in the catalogue” and “a must-add to your listening list” by American Record Guide. The present album, Legend of the Phoenix Queen and other tales, grew out of Zhenni’s desire to reconnect with her musical heritage by exploring traditional and contemporary Chinese works inspired by folk songs, stories and historic instruments.  

Zhenni was recently filmed by CNN for an upcoming national broadcast feature. She is currently the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of “Opus 71 Concerts,” a multimedia concert series near New York City’s Lincoln Center. Zhenni Li-Cohen is a Steinway Artist.

About Steinway & Sons label

The STEINWAY & SONS music label produces exceptional albums of solo piano music across all genres. The label — a division of STEINWAY & SONS, maker of the world’s finest pianos — is a perfect vessel for producing the finest quality recordings by some of the most talented pianists in the world.