Chinese violinist Lu Siqing will collaborate with the Shenzhen Grand Theater Philharmonic Orchestra to present “The Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto.”

    When he was 11, Lu was selected by Yehudi Menuhin to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey, England. After returning to China in 1985, he appeared as a member of several major Chinese orchestras.

    In 1987, he won the first prize of the Paganini Competition. He currently holds the post of director of the violin department at Naxos International, the CD company that records and distributes his music. He plays the Guarneri del Gesu “Wieniawski” on loan from the Stradivari Society.

    “The Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto” is one of the most famous modern works of Chinese music. It is an orchestral adaptation of an ancient legend, “The Butterfly Lovers.”

    Written for a Western orchestra, it features a solo violin. It uses many Chinese melodies, chord structures and patterns. This gives the piece a distinctive “Chinese” sound, though it uses tonal harmonies.

    Two Chinese composers, He Zhanhao and Chen Gang, wrote the concerto in 1959 while they were students at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The work is a common feature in figure skating competitions and concert halls worldwide.

    The 1959 premiere of the concerto featured 18-year-old violinist Yu Lina and took place in Shanghai as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

    Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 4

    Tickets: 100-680 yuan

    Reservations:

    400-610-3721

    Venue: Shenzhen Grand Theater, 5018 Shennan Road East, Luohu District (罗湖区深南东路5018号深圳大剧院)

    Metro: Luobao or Shekou Line, Grand Theater Station (大剧院站), Exit B(SD News)