Two concerts will be held this weekend at Shenzhen Concert Hall, respectively featuring the works of contemporary Chinese composer Fu Gengchen and the best of piano music.

A tribute to recent Chinese history

On Friday evening, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) will collaborate with 10 Guangdong-based singers to perform 25 pieces composed by Fu during his seven-decade career. Under the baton of Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra artistic director Fu Renchang, the concert will present songs with lyrics from poems by the founding fathers of the PRC, songs from Chinese movies and TV shows, and songs composed to reflect the spirit of contemporary Chinese people. Best known for his scores and theme songs for such films as “The Tunnel Warfare” (1965) and “Sparkling Red Star” (1974), the composer received a Golden Bell life achievement award, a top music award in China.

A graduate of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Leipzig Music Conservatory, conductor Fu has also served as the principal conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra since 2005. He has a rich repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary music. He has conducted the Chinese premieres of several works by Richard Strauss, Mahler, Wagner and Bartok, and premiered some contemporary pieces at music festivals in Europe and China.

Performing at the concert will be sopranos Cui Zhengrong, Li Siyin, Chen Li’an and Wang Lihong, tenors Jia Shanghui, Zhang Xueliang and Wang Jing, baritones Yang Yang and Su Mu, as well as Chinese folk singer Yang Le.

Also singing at the concert will be the SZSO chorus and the Lily Girls Choir.

Time: 8 p.m., April 23

Tickets: 50-880 yuan

Masterpieces in piano music

On Saturday, pianist Tan Xiaotang will bring the works of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt to the concert hall.

The program will include Chopin’s “Fantasy-Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66” and “Polonaise in A-Flat Major,” also known as the “Heroic,” Mozart’s “12 Variations in C Major,” Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor,” also known as the “Moonlight,” as well as an excerpt from his piano sonata No. 23, known as the “Passion,” Liszt’s “Dreams of Love” and others.

An associate professor in piano at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, Tan was the first prizewinner in the piano section of the Sendai International Music Competition in 2004.

He has collaborated with many orchestras including the Bamberger Symphony, Japan Philharmonic, Sendai Philharmonic, China National Symphony and Shanghai Philharmonic.

He has also appeared at music festivals including the Ravel Music Festival in France, Meissen Piano Festival in Germany and the Sendai Classical Music Festival in Japan.

The program selection is a good showcase for piano students in addition to being very popular.

Time: 8 p.m., April 24

Tickets: 120-380 yuan

Booking: WeChat account “szyyt_piao”

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (福田区深圳音乐厅)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D(Li Dan)