THE SOUND OF SPRING - A Chinese New Year Concert with The Orchestra Now

Now in its fifth year, The “Sound of Spring” is an authentic Chinese New Year concert featuring dramatic orchestral works and world-class Chinese instrument soloists. This year’s program presents a new selection of festive Chinese music to welcome in the lunar new year, with exciting solo performances by erhu virtuoso Zhang Haiyue and dizi virtuoso Feng Tianshi from the Central Conservatory of Music in China. Famed winds master Guo Yazhi will perform a world-premiere suona concerto by composer Xinyan Li.

Maestro Jindong Cai, Director of the US-China Music Institute, has created a program that asks the audience to consider how music affects us when it is familiar, such as a folk song heard since childhood, compared to how we hear new music or ancient music from the traditions of faraway lands. The program features works by contemporary Chinese composers that draw inspiration from the musical traditions of several distinct regions, forming a tapestry of different styles and sounds.

Come early to enjoy a live pre-concert Chinese instrument demonstration starting at 2pm in the 5th floor lobby of Rose Theater.

“The Sound of Spring” is presented by The US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, in collaboration with the Central Conservatory of Music, China. Support for the event generously provided by the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute.

PROGRAM

Li Huanzhi 李焕之 (1919–2000)
Spring Festival Overture 《春节序曲》 (1955-56)

Ye Xiaogang 叶小纲 (b. 1955)
From Cantonese Suite 《广东音乐组曲》 (2005)
i. Raindrops Tapping on Banana Leaves 雨打芭蕉
iv. Thunder in Drought 旱天雷

Chang Shiuan 张玹 (b. 1989)
Diu Diu Diu Diu Dang for orchestra《丟丟丟丟铜仔》 (2018, US Premiere)

Hao Weiya 郝维亚 (b. 1971)
Blooming in the Spring concerto for dizi and orchestra 《陌上花开》 (2023, US Premiere)

Intermission

Wang Jianmin 王建民 (b. 1956)
Erhu Rhapsody No. 6 第六二胡狂想曲 (2023, US Premiere）

Xinyan Li 李昕艳 (b. 1978)
The Magic Land suona concerto 《神奇的土地》 (2023, World Premiere）

Wang Danhong 王丹红 (b. 1985)
Joyful Songs of Mountains and Waters 《山水欢歌》 (2023, US Premiere)

ARTISTS
The Orchestra Now
Jindong Cai, conductor
Feng Tianshi, dizi
Zhang Haiyue, erhu
Guo Yazhi, suona