Tan Dun
Liu Wenwen
Han Yan
Zhang Meng
Under the direction of Tan Dun, a renowned Chinese-American composer and conductor, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) and its chorus will enchant the audience with a mix of familiar Chinese melodies and original compositions by Tan at the New Year's concert of Nanshan District. Of particular note, the program will feature the Chinese debut of Tan's choral concerto "Nine."
The concert will also feature solo performances by renowned musicians, including sheng player Zhang Meng, pipa player Han Yan, and suona player Liu Wenwen.
During the first half of the evening, the audience will be treated to sheng player Zhang's innovative rendition of Nie Er's "Dance of the Golden Snake," a joyous overture fitting for the upcoming Chinese Year of the Snake in late January.
Then, Han, a faculty member of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, will captivate listeners with Tan's pipa concerto, showcasing the expressive depth of this traditional Chinese plucked string instrument.
Liu, China's first Ph.D. student specializing in the suona, a traditional Chinese instrument often featured in rural village ceremonies, will also showcase her skills. She will perform "Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix," a timeless suona piece adapted by Ren Tongxiang. This composition includes vivid bird calls and a virtuosic segment that demands special breathing techniques for sustaining notes.
Following the intermission, the audience will be treated to the Chinese premiere of Tan's "Nine," paired with the iconic "Ode to Joy" from the final movement of Beethoven's ninth symphony.
Originally commissioned by the U.K.'s Royal Philharmonic Society and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth in 2020, the work saw its planned premiere delayed by the pandemic. Tan reconsidered his composition and expanded "Nine" into three movements, respectively titled "Nine," "Wine," and "Time" ("Ode to Peace"), which juxtapose Chinese texts alongside the words of "Ode to Joy" by Friedrich Schiller. The Chinese texts are from such great poets as Qu Yuan and Li Bai.
Conducted by Tan, the world premiere of "Nine" occurred Aug. 29, 2024, at the Rheingau Musik Festival, performed by the National Youth Orchestra of Germany and the World Youth Choir. Following a successful European tour, Tan led the Australian premiere in September with the Melbourne Symphony and Chorus.
This concert promises to take listeners on a thrilling musical journey, igniting their zest for life with celestial melodies and invigorating rhythms.
Time: 8 p.m., Jan. 13
Venue: Shenzhen Poly Theater, Nanshan District
Metro: Line 2, 11 or 13 to Houhai Station, Exit E
