Reviews

Concerts

Celebrating two heroes

Under the baton of its artistic director Yu Long (pictured), China Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) closed the curtain of the 2006-07 season on Saturday night at the Poly Theater with two heroic efforts.

The CPO gave an exuberant interpretation of composer Guo Wenjing's four-movement Symphony Hero, which is a paean of Chinese people, the nation and the Communist Party of China. The motives of the first three movements are melodies of the popular Chinese songs Red East, Story of Spring and Entering the New Era.

CPO conveyed the composer's portraying of Chinese people's struggle for liberation, the social construction and opening and reform campaign. The last movement borrows the theme of China's national anthem to display China's revival.

Yu conducted CPO to premiere the work at the same venue in October 2002 and five years later, the orchestra presented a better performance.

The other "hero" is better known. Richard Strauss' Tone Poem Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life) has influenced later generations in its orchestration and use of dissonance.

CPO played a broad, sinewy theme, developed with polyphonic magnificence. In Yu's interpretation, Strauss' Hero is of grosser fiber, and it is of Strauss himself and not human destiny for which he sings praises.

Chen Jie

Kids go classical

The Vermont Youth Orchestra (VYO) embarks upon its first concert tour in China. First stop was Beijing where the orchestra played at the Beijing Concert Hall on Wednesday and a special performance was held at the Great Wall on Thursday.

At the Beijing Concert Hall, under the baton of its conductor Troy Peters, the orchestra played Brahms' Hungarian Dances Nos. 5 & 6, Verdi's Overture to The Force of Destiny, Tchaikovsky's Finale from Symphony No. 4 in F minor and Chinese pieces Spring Festival Overture by Li Huanzhi and Red Flag Ode by Lu Qiming. Korean viola player Phillip Ying, the VYO's guest soloist for the China tour, performed Bruch's Romance and Bloch's Suite Hebraique.

The VYO members also visited the Music School attached to the Central Conservatory of Music for exchange activities with the orchestra.

The VYO played in Shanghai on Sunday and will move to Hangzhou tomorrow, before joining the Hong Kong Youth Symphony at the Kwai Tsing Theater on July 7. Conductor Troy Peters has been the Music Director of the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association since 1995.

CJ

The good old days

Actress-turned singer Gao Chang gave a concert at the Beijing Concert Hall Thursday night featuring nearly 20 songs from popular Chinese movies.

Gao sang songs popular in the 1930s, 50s and 80s such as The Fisherman's Song (Yu Guang Qu) from the movie of the same title and Song of the Shepherd (Muyang Qu) from Shaolin Temple. Pianist Hu Tingjiang accompanied Gao in the first half, while Zhang Zheng conducted China Opera and Ballet Theater orchestra in the second half.

Born in Northeast China's Jilin Province, Gao graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 1998 and learned singing with famous vocal professor Jin Tielin at the China Conservatory of Music. She has won many national competitions since 1998 and gave some 20 concerts throughout China.

CJ

(China Daily 07/03/2007 page20)