Debra Li

    SHENZHEN Symphony Orchestra (SSO) began its fall/winter season Saturday night, presenting a classical concert at Shenzhen Concert Hall.

    Conducted by SSO artistic director Christian Ehwald, the opening program included “Symphony No. 8” by Franz  Schubert, also known as the “Unfinished Symphony,” and Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 5.”

    Most symphonies consist of four movements, but Schubert’s “No. 8” only has two. The unique work has still entered the canon for its combination of lyricism with drama that typifies the composer’s output. “Symphony No. 5” is widely thought of as Mahler’s masterpiece. It is the composer’s most played work and a regular on the SSO repertoire.

    In the next five months, SSO will continue to feature classical works from central Europe while also performing works by Russian masters Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Rachmaninov. The orchestra will also devote some concerts to works by Chinese composers and local musicians.

    Fans will hear familiar pieces such as Beethoven’s “Violin Concerto” and “Symphony No. 3,” Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 9 in E Minor” also known as “From the New World.” They will also hear some lesser known pieces such as Rachmaninov’s “Symphony No. 3 in A Minor” and contemporary Chinese composer Huang Anlun’s works.

    Originally, “Symphony No. 3 in A Minor” confused critics and audiences, gaining a lukewarm reception. However, Rachmaninov himself was convinced it was one of his best works.

    As usual, SSO has invited many talented soloists and conductors to join it in the new season.

    Pianist Lang Lang and singing prodigy Liu Shen will collaborate with SSO to present a concert on New Year’s Eve. Lang will play Liszt’s “Piano Concerto No. 1.”

    Shenzhen audiences may not be familiar with Liu. But like Lang, the 11-year-old Liu had his talent spotted by his parents at an early age. The boy could sing excerpts from operas after hearing them just a few times at 3. Since age 7, he has performed at Beijing Concert Hall and National Center for the Performing Arts collaborating with established conductors Yu Long and Yang Hongnian. He has a voice resembling an experienced coloratura soprano.

    Also performing during the season will be conductor Tang Muhai, Bian Zushan, and Zhang Guoyong, Chinese violinists Ning Kam and Huang Bin, and pianists Wang Yang and Shen Wenyu.

    Japanese violinist Midori Goto and Friedemann Eichhorn, a young music professor from Germany, will debut in collaboration with SSO.

Schedule

8 p.m., Sept. 16

Beethoven “Violin Concerto”

Beethoven “Symphony No. 3”

Conductor: Christian Ehwald

Violinist: Huang Bin

8 p.m., Sept. 23

Shostakovich “Violin Concerto No. 1”

Shostakovich “Symphony No. 8”

Conductor: Christian Ehwald

Violinist: Ning Kam

8 p.m., Sept. 30

Wang Ning “Ode to Humanity”

Conductor: Zhang Guoyong

8 p.m., Oct. 23

Tchaikovsky “Piano Concerto No. 1”

Prokofiev “Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major”

Conductor: Michael Palmer

Pianists: Zuo Zhang, Mariya Kim

8 p.m., Nov. 5

Program undecided

Conductor: Christian Ehwald

8 p.m., Nov. 11

Works by teachers and students from Central Conservatory of Music

Conductor: Yang Youqing

8 p.m., Nov. 18

Weber “Oberon” Overture

Mendelssohn “Violin Concerto in E Minor”

Dvorak “Symphony No. 7”

Conductor: Uros Lajovic

Violinist: Friedemann Eichhorn

8 p.m., Nov. 22

Professor Dan Zhaoyi’s demo concert

8 p.m., Dec. 9

Prokofiev March from “The Love for Three Oranges”

Prokofiev “Piano Concerto No. 3”

Prokofiev “Symphony No. 7 in C-sharp Minor”

Conductor: Bian Zushan

Pianist: Wang Yang

Venue: Shenzhen Grand Theater

8 p.m., Dec. 16

Beethoven “Egmond” Overture

Beethoven “Violin Concerto”

Dvorak “Symphony No. 9”

Conductor: Tang Muhai

Violinist: Midori Goto

8 p.m., Dec. 23

A Christmas-theme concert

Conductor: Wang Jun

8 p.m., Dec. 31

Liszt “Piano Concerto No. 1”

Pianist: Lang Lang

Singer: Liu Shen

Conductor: Christian Ehwald

8 p.m., Jan. 8

Huang Anlun “Symphonic Overture No. 2”

Huang Anlun “Violin Concerto in B”

Huang Anlun “Symphony in A Flat Major--Phoenix”

Conductor: Lei Yu

8 p.m., Jan. 13

Rachmaninov “Symphony No. 3”

Rachmaninov “Piano Concerto No. 3”

Conductor: Zhang Guoyong

Pianist: Shen Wenyu

8 p.m., Jan. 20

Symphonic works by Shenzhen composers

Conductor: Lei Yu

(All tickets will be priced between 50-280 yuan. The concerts will be staged at Shenzhen Concert Hall if not otherwise stated.)