Debra Li

    debra_lidan@163.com

    ON the night of Dec. 30, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SSO) will present a New Year concert, collaborating with Berlin Philharmonic Choir as well as top Chinese vocal musicians.

    Under the baton of SSO artistic director Christian Ehwald, the concert will feature Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9,” the composer’s last finished symphony. Completed in 1824, the symphony is one of the best-known works of the Western classical repertoire and almost universally considered to be among Beethoven’s greatest works.

    The symphony was the first example of a choral symphony by a major composer.

    The words are sung during the final movement by four vocal soloists and a chorus. The lyrics come from “Ode to Joy,” a poem written by Friedrich Schiller in 1785 and revised in 1803, with additions made by the composer.

    Soprano Song Yuanming, mezzo-soprano Yang Jie, tenor Wang Feng and baritone Zhang Haiqing will lead the Berlin Philharmonic Choir during the final movement.

    Song graduated with two master’s degrees in vocals from the Vienna National University of Music and Performing Arts under the tutelage of Professor Franz Lucasalfsky. She has won several awards including first prize of the 48th International Vocal Competition in Toulouse, France. She has performed at the Salzburg International Art and Music Festival, and has worked with orchestras like the Vienna Philharmonic. She has starred in operas including “Don Juan,” “La Boheme,” “Turandot,” and “Carmen.” Her voice is gentle but extremely powerful, allowing her to play many roles ranging from lyric soprano to coloratura soprano.

    Yang graduated from China’s Central Conservatory of Music in 1983. In 1988, she won second prize at the 2nd Schubert International Vocal Competition in Japan. The mezzo-soprano has also collaborated with China Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of China and many other prestigious orchestras.

    Wang, a graduate of Guangzhou Xinghai Conservatory of Music, is an excellent spinto tenor active on China’s opera stage. He has sung major operatic roles in “Turandot,” “La Traviata,” “Cavalleria Rusticana,” and others. Performing for audiences at home and abroad, he has sung the lead more than once in Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9.”

    Zhang, a native of Inner Mongolia, graduated from China Conservatory of Music. He has won many awards including the silver award in bel canto at the 12th CCTV Young Singers’ Competition in 2006.

    Founded in 1882, Berlin Philharmonic Choir has performed with many prestigious orchestras and conductors like Yehudi Menuhin. Its performances have been played on TV and the radio and recorded into CDs.

    Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 30

    Tickets: 50-1,280 yuan

    Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, intersection of Hongli Road and Yitian Road, Futian District (福田区红荔路和益田路交汇处深圳音乐厅)

    Metro: Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit C or D