“The upcoming edition of the biennial China Orchestra Festival is a special one because it marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up,” writes Chen Nan in Monday’s (3/19) China Daily. “The festival, which was launched in 2008 by the National Centre for the Performing Arts, will also celebrate works by Chinese composers. … During the festival, which runs from April 6 to 28 at the NCPA in Beijing, nine Chinese symphony orchestras will perform 35 original works by 22 Chinese composers. The festival’s artistic director [is] Lyu Jia, who will also be one of the conductors at the event…. The festival will open with a concert by the China National Symphony Orchestra under Tang Muhai, and will feature eight pieces, including Symphonic Opera of 3 Notes by Tan Dun, Casting Sword by Ye Xiaogang and Torch Festival by Wang Xilin. The Chinese tenors Shi Yijie, Shen Yang and Liu Songhu will also take part in the concert…. Composer Ye, 63, who is the chairman of the Chinese Musicians’ Association and vice-president of the Central Conservatory of Music … [said] ‘We—both Chinese composers and symphony orchestras—have managed to start a conversation between Chinese culture and Western classical music.’ ”
Posted March 21, 2018
