Bard Conservatory of Music’s US–China Music Institute and the Central Conservatory of Music, China, Present “The Sound of Spring:” A Chinese New Year Concert with The Orchestra Now (TŌN)
Jindong Cai conducts The Orchestra Now at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Photo by Fadi Kheir
The sixth annual “The Sound of Spring” concert celebrating the Chinese New Year will be held on January 25 and 26, 2025, at the Fisher Center at Bard College and Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Both performances will begin at 3 pm. The Orchestra Now performs under the baton of conductor Jindong Cai, with featured soloists Wang Lei, professor of Sheng at the Central Conservatory of Music; Yan Guowei, winner of the Golden Prize at the China Music Golden Bell Award for Erhu; Zhang Jingli, a renowned percussionist; and Bard graduate student and pipa virtuoso JinOu Anastasia Dong, presenting a musical celebration to usher in the Spring Festival.
Each year, “The Sound of Spring” showcases exemplary symphonic works from the modern and contemporary repertoire, often featuring concertos for traditional Chinese instruments. This year, Maestro Jindong Cai, director of the US–China Music Institute, introduces the pipa concerto “Sisters of the Grassland,” a milestone work in the development of Chinese ethnic music. Based on Wu Yingju’s animated film of the same name and inspired by Inner Mongolian folk songs, the piece portrays the heroic efforts of two Mongolian sisters, Longmei and Yurong, as they courageously battle a blizzard to protect their flock. Composed in 1972 by Wu Zuqiang, Wang Yanqiao, and Liu Dehai, the piece established the precedent for pipa concertos with orchestral accompaniment. In January 1979, shortly after the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Seiji Ozawa conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a performance of “Sisters of the Grassland” during their historic visit to China, followed soon after by its US premiere.
The concert will also feature multiple works by contemporary Chinese composers, including three concertos for Chinese instruments and orchestra. The erhu concerto “Ink Plum” by renowned artist and educator Yu Hongmei, inspired by Wang Mian’s poem “Ink Plum” from the Yuan Dynasty, combines classical poetry with modern compositional techniques with a grand yet nuanced effect. The concerto will be performed by Yan Guowei, associate professor of Erhu at the Central Conservatory of Music, who is celebrated as one of China’s top ten young Erhu performers and a recipient of the prestigious “Golden School Badge” award from the Central Conservatory.
The percussion concerto “Cang Cai,” composed by Tang Jianping in 2003, merges the sounds of Chinese Peking Opera and with crashing cymbals. The work will be performed by Zhang Jingli, a distinguished percussionist and professor at the Central Conservatory of Music. Zhang has served as principal percussionist of the China Symphony Orchestra and the China Philharmonic Orchestra and is a frequent judge at international percussion competitions.
This year’s concert will also feature the world premiere of “Majestic Gallop” by composer and Visiting Professor of Chinese Music at Bard College Xinyan Li. A concerto for sheng and orchestra, the piece will be performed by Wang Lei, professor at the Central Conservatory of Music and sheng virtuoso. The piece is inspired by the vast grasslands of Hulunbuir, galloping horses, and the simple life of herders, showcasing the expressive power of the sheng and incorporating Mongolian long tunes.
In addition to the classic “Spring Festival Overture” and the aforementioned concertos, the concert will present two symphonic works: “East and West III: Tao for All” by Zhang Shuai, and “The Majestic Land” by Li Shaosheng. Zhang’s “East and West III” draws inspiration from the Tao Te Ching and reflects the composer’s deep philosophical insights into Taoism, nature, and life. Li’s “The Majestic Land” will close the concert. The work portrays the grandeur of China’s landscapes throughout the day, from the sunrise over Mount Tai to the starry sky above China’s 500-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST).
This year’s “The Sound of Spring” will once again feature a pre-concert demonstration with Chinese traditional instruments, offering the public the opportunity to engage with instruments and meet musicians starting at 2pm, an hour before each concert.
Sixth Annual “The Sound of Spring” Chinese New Year Concert
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Saturday, January 25, 2025, 3 pm
(Pre-concert event in the Fisher Center lobby at 2 pm)
Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College
Tickets $25
http://barduschinamusic.org/events/spring-25-bard
Sunday, January 26, 2025, 3 pm
(Chinese traditional instrument demonstrations and Spring Festival activities at 2 pm in the Rose Theater Lobby)
Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall
10 Columbus Circle, New York, 5th Floor
Tickets: From $25
Ticket Purchase: Online at https://ticketing.jazz.org/ or by phone at 212-721-6500 (or in person at the box office to avoid service fees)
http://barduschinamusic.org/events/spring25
Post Date: 01-17-2025
Each year, “The Sound of Spring” showcases exemplary symphonic works from the modern and contemporary repertoire, often featuring concertos for traditional Chinese instruments. This year, Maestro Jindong Cai, director of the US–China Music Institute, introduces the pipa concerto “Sisters of the Grassland,” a milestone work in the development of Chinese ethnic music. Based on Wu Yingju’s animated film of the same name and inspired by Inner Mongolian folk songs, the piece portrays the heroic efforts of two Mongolian sisters, Longmei and Yurong, as they courageously battle a blizzard to protect their flock. Composed in 1972 by Wu Zuqiang, Wang Yanqiao, and Liu Dehai, the piece established the precedent for pipa concertos with orchestral accompaniment. In January 1979, shortly after the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Seiji Ozawa conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a performance of “Sisters of the Grassland” during their historic visit to China, followed soon after by its US premiere.
The concert will also feature multiple works by contemporary Chinese composers, including three concertos for Chinese instruments and orchestra. The erhu concerto “Ink Plum” by renowned artist and educator Yu Hongmei, inspired by Wang Mian’s poem “Ink Plum” from the Yuan Dynasty, combines classical poetry with modern compositional techniques with a grand yet nuanced effect. The concerto will be performed by Yan Guowei, associate professor of Erhu at the Central Conservatory of Music, who is celebrated as one of China’s top ten young Erhu performers and a recipient of the prestigious “Golden School Badge” award from the Central Conservatory.
The percussion concerto “Cang Cai,” composed by Tang Jianping in 2003, merges the sounds of Chinese Peking Opera and with crashing cymbals. The work will be performed by Zhang Jingli, a distinguished percussionist and professor at the Central Conservatory of Music. Zhang has served as principal percussionist of the China Symphony Orchestra and the China Philharmonic Orchestra and is a frequent judge at international percussion competitions.
This year’s concert will also feature the world premiere of “Majestic Gallop” by composer and Visiting Professor of Chinese Music at Bard College Xinyan Li. A concerto for sheng and orchestra, the piece will be performed by Wang Lei, professor at the Central Conservatory of Music and sheng virtuoso. The piece is inspired by the vast grasslands of Hulunbuir, galloping horses, and the simple life of herders, showcasing the expressive power of the sheng and incorporating Mongolian long tunes.
In addition to the classic “Spring Festival Overture” and the aforementioned concertos, the concert will present two symphonic works: “East and West III: Tao for All” by Zhang Shuai, and “The Majestic Land” by Li Shaosheng. Zhang’s “East and West III” draws inspiration from the Tao Te Ching and reflects the composer’s deep philosophical insights into Taoism, nature, and life. Li’s “The Majestic Land” will close the concert. The work portrays the grandeur of China’s landscapes throughout the day, from the sunrise over Mount Tai to the starry sky above China’s 500-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST).
This year’s “The Sound of Spring” will once again feature a pre-concert demonstration with Chinese traditional instruments, offering the public the opportunity to engage with instruments and meet musicians starting at 2pm, an hour before each concert.
Sixth Annual “The Sound of Spring” Chinese New Year Concert
PERFORMANCE DETAILS
Saturday, January 25, 2025, 3 pm
(Pre-concert event in the Fisher Center lobby at 2 pm)
Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College
Tickets $25
http://barduschinamusic.org/events/spring-25-bard
Sunday, January 26, 2025, 3 pm
(Chinese traditional instrument demonstrations and Spring Festival activities at 2 pm in the Rose Theater Lobby)
Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall
10 Columbus Circle, New York, 5th Floor
Tickets: From $25
Ticket Purchase: Online at https://ticketing.jazz.org/ or by phone at 212-721-6500 (or in person at the box office to avoid service fees)
http://barduschinamusic.org/events/spring25
Post Date: 01-17-2025