Next Friday, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta will stage Chinese composer Chan Hing-yan's "There's Something in the Wind" for its debut on China's mainland.
Hailed as one of the world's best sinfoniettas, it has a rich Chinese repertoire that few orchestras in the world can rival.
The piece is a combination of the orchestra and two Chinese instruments -the dizi (flute) and sheng (a mouth-blown free reed), which rarely is played in a concerto.
"The sinfonietta with 56 contract musicians has quite a high performance quality, making it famous for cooperating with young composers and musicians and for musical experiments," says local music critic Li Yanhuan. He says the orchestra has recently cooperated with a pop drummer and tried to combine violin and Peking Opera.
In addition to the new Chinese piece, the orchestra will play Kodaly's "Dances of Galanta," Grieg's "Two Norwegian Airs, Op. 63" and Sibelius' "Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47."
The concert will also feature female Chinese conductor Yip Wing-sie and French violinist Renaud Capucon.
"Yip is probably the only renowned female Chinese conductor of her generation," says critic Li. "She is good at conducting 20th-century works and also famous for her knowledge of string instruments."
Having studied at the Royal College of Music in London and Indiana University in the United States, Yip was appointed as new music director of the Sinfonietta in 2002 and is also the Principal Guest Conductor of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra.
Awarded the coveted "Solo Instrumentalist of the Year" at the French "Victoires de la Musique 2005," violinist Capucon has performed with many maestros including Seiji Ozawa, Daniel Barenboim and Claudio Abbado. He plays a 1737 Guarneri del Gesu, the "Panette" that belonged to Isaac Stern.
Chen Qigang's concert
Date: May 5, 7:15pm
Venue: He Luting Concert Hall, 20 Fenyang Rd
Tickets: 50-150 yuan
Tel: 021-6433-3574/6437-5608
Hong Kong Sinfonietta
Date: May 6, 7:30pm
Venue: Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong
Tickets: 80-280 yuan
Tel: 021-6854-1234
