Shanghai Grand Theater hosts world music
The Shanghai Chinese Orchestra will be joined on stage by traditional musicians from all over the world for a multimedia concert, “Our Common Homeland,” at the Shanghai Grand Theater.
It will be a dialogue of world music, with distinctive voices such as tabla from South Asia, tin whistle from Ireland, guitar from Spain, balalaika from Russia, drums from Africa and traditional Chinese instruments.
It was not an easy job to select the works and instruments that would sparkle alongside traditional Chinese instruments, said composer Huang Lei. Therefore, the instrument players were encouraged to join the composer from the beginning of the creation to make sure the features of particular instruments can be showcased and realized.
There had been countless discussions among pipa player Yu Bing, guitar player Saez Palazon and Huang before “Ride the Waves” was born.
The ensemble hopes that the work will not only demonstrate the artists’ dazzling plucking skills, but also a surprisingly fresh presentation of traditional instruments will be highlighted.
Hu Chenyun will challenge himself, shifting between Chinese suona and the Armenian pipe in the wind, and electronic music piece “Transcendence.”
“I am confident that audiences will see the great potential of suona, which is far beyond their traditional impression on the ancient instrument,” said Hu.
“Whispers of Winds and Birds” will be another highlight of the concert, as a lately innovative trial of Chinese composer Tan Dun.
Tan creates a dialogue between cell-phone — typical modern equipment — with traditional Chinese folk symphony.
The piece tries to discuss the balance between a rapidly-developing human society and an eternal nature.
Performance details
Date: November 5-6, 7:15pm
Tickets: 50-680 yuan
Tel: 6386-8686
Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater
Address: 300 People’s Ave
