AS the Christmas and New Year draw near, musicians of the city are prepared to give big musical feasts to citizens. This week will see two concerts staged by the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SSO).

A piano recital will raise the curtain of the musical celebrations at the Modern Performing Art Center in Futian District on Thursday evening, featuring young piano soloist Tang Xiaoliang and Meng Xin, a veteran conductor stirring on the stages nationwide.

Born in Shanghai, Tang studied in the Central Conservatory of Music in 1999 and performed piano recitals at home and abroad while winning international competitions.

Tang will play the Well-tempered Clavier BWV875 by Bach and Etudes d' Exscution Transcendante by Franz Liszt.

The SSO will bring a fresh musical hit to Shenzhen audience when a large cantata music drama named Messiah is presented at the new TV center theater in Futian District on Saturday evening.

This music drama, also known as an oratorio concert, will feature Hong Kong Oratorio Society, a Chinese oratorio society in Canada and a chorus from the Hong Kong Institute of Education. Su Mingcun, conductor of Hong Kong Oratorio Society, will take the baton for the concert.

Messiah comprises three episodes: predict of Christ's coming and his birth, salvation message and the sacrifice of Christ, and Christ's death and the final judgment. The concert will also include a series of short Christmas songs.

Editor: Wing