Classics and contemporary

Conducted by Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) artistic director Lin Daye, the orchestra will collaborate with a group of young musicians from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music (SCM) to present a colorful concert this Saturday. The diversified program includes works by contemporary Chinese composers as well as Western classics and features vocalists, violin and piano soloists, and Chinese instrument players.

Chen Liya, a master’s degree candidate majoring in zheng (Chinese plucked board zither), will perform the solo part of a concerto titled “Cang Ge Yin.” Composed by Chen Zhe in 2014, the piece combines Chinese and Western music elements and gives full play of the soloist’s virtuosity. With sounds mimicking spring, it’s an ode to life and its vitality. Chen Liya has won multiple national awards, including a gold medal at the sixth “Dunhuang Cup” Chinese instrument competition in the professional group.

Bamboo flutist Chen Hongxuan will lead in the concerto “Chinese Caprices No. 1: Oriental Image.” Written by Wang Jianmin, this refreshing piece borrows largely from folk songs and local opera forms from south of the Yangtze River. The piece was originally dedicated to flutist Tang Junqiao, who considers Chen Hongxuan to be one of her prized pupils.

Liu Wenwen, the first doctoral candidate in suona (Chinese double-reed woodwind instrument) and one of the most influential young suona players today, will lead a concerto titled “Ode to Kirin.” Using variations based on local opera and folk music melodies unique to Shandong Province, this piece pays tribute to kirin, a legendary Chinese creature thought to be auspicious. Liu has appeared at the New Year’s Concert at the Sydney Opera House as a soloist under the baton of Tan Dun.

Hua Hui will perform as the soloist in the violin concerto “The Butterfly Lovers” by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao. Hua was the fourth-place winner at the 37th Premio Rodolfo Lipizer International Violin Competition, in Gorizia, Italy in 2018. He also won four special awards at the event, respectively for excellent performance, collaboration with the piano, interpretation of modern works and virtuosity.

Pianist Liu Kang, also a multiple international award-winner, will perform Liszt’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major.” Liszt was at his most demonic, self-promotional best in this concerto. Out front, the soloist is in total control while the orchestra is his backup band.

The three vocalists, namely Jin Yao, Xiao Xinyi and Chen Jingwei, will perform fan-favorite Chinese songs like “Liuyang River” and “I Love You, China” as well as the aria “Come Scoglio” (“I Am Like a Rock”) from the Mozart opera “Cosi fan Tutte.”

Time: 8 p.m., May 8

Tickets: 50-880 yuan

Lily Girls Choir

The pride of Shenzhen citizens, the Lily Girls Choir has been well-received for its natural, heartwarming and crystal clear voice and colorful repertoire. The troupe will perform a concert for fans this Sunday evening, bringing some fan favorites as well as new songs.

The program will include “Spring Swallow,” an inspiring song written last year during the COVID-19 pandemic to pay respect to life and nature, “Wild Goose,” “Dancing Rainbow Skirts” and other tracks adapted from ethnic minority songs, artistic songs with lyrics based on classical Chinese poems, classical Western music such as a piece from Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute,” as well as Chinese fan favorites like “I Love You, China.” The program also includes adapted pop songs such as “The Brightest Star in the Night Sky,” originally by Chinese indie pop band Escape Plan.

Founded in 1997, the Lily Girls Choir is comprised of girls aged 11 to 17 from Shenzhen Senior High School. The choir has performed with many renowned conductors and symphony orchestras. Receiving awards at multiple international competitions, the choir has won the first prize in the children’s choir category, as well as the audience award at the 36th Tolosa International Choral Festival in Spain in 2004. In 2019, it won the gold prize in the youth choir group in the Grand Prix of Nations Gothenburg with the top score. The chorus was invited to perform at the ACDA Conference 2016 Eastern Division, IFCM World Choral Expo 2015, and the John F. Kennedy Arts Center Millennium Stage.

Hu Manxue, one of the founders of the troupe, was teaching piano at Jiangxi Normal University before being appointed conductor of the Lily Girls Choir. She furthered her studies at the conducting department of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing where she studied with professors Yang Hongnian and Chen Lin.

Time: 8 p.m., May 9

Tickets: 80-480 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)