The Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra stages a concert featuring Chinese musical works on Sept 19. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Three members of one musical family took the stage on Sept 19 at Wuhan Qintai Concert Hall in Hubei province, to perform a concert exploring the meeting point of traditional Chinese music and the symphony orchestra.
Pipa player Yang Jing, banhu player Shen Cheng and young pianist Shen Zeyu joined the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra led by the orchestra's music director and principal conductor, Fu Renchang.
The program featured entirely Chinese works, including Zhao Jiping's Pipa Concerto No 2 and Hu Tingjiang's Shizilou (Lion Tower), performed by Yang and Shen Sheng. The two concertos place the pipa and banhu — instruments deeply rooted in Chinese musical traditions — at the heart of the orchestral sound.
After the interval, Liu Feng's orchestral arrangement of The Red Flower Blooms Brightly was followed by the evening's centerpiece, the Yellow River Piano Concerto, with Shen Zeyu as soloist.
A young pianist with experience in performing Western classical repertoire, Shen Zeyu said the Yellow River Piano Concerto requires a sense of reverence. Rather than focusing solely on its technical demands, he sought to convey the work's historical weight and emotional power.
The family lineup was also a highlight. The pipa's delicacy, the banhu's intensity, and the piano's breadth each brought a distinct sound to the orchestra, while their family connection added a personal dimension to the performance.
