Debra Li

debra_lidan@163.com

THE Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) is joining hands with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO) to present a concert that marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland that falls on this Friday.

The concert, with the first half conducted by SZSO artistic director Lin Daye and the second half under the baton of HKCO artistic director Yan Huichang, will be broadcast on various online platforms during the month of July.

The program for the first half will include the classical Chinese percussion piece “Prancing Dragons and Running Tigers,” symphonic poem “Maple Bridge Night Mooring,” choral symphony “Hope,” song “Every Spring,” and the final movement from the symphony “Ode to Humanity.”

Wang Dong, former percussionist with HKCO, will open the show with the SZSO performing the spirited joyous Chinese percussion classic.

Contemporary composer Xu Zhenmin in 1991 created “Maple Bridge Night Mooring” based on a famous Tang Dynasty (618-907) poem by Zhang Ji. With the flute mimicking the sound of the xiao (Chinese vertical flute) and violins replacing the erhu and pipa (both Chinese stringed instruments), the piece depicts a lonely autumn night in the suburbs of Suzhou experienced by the Tang poet, using harmonies and orchestration borrowed from French impressionists such as Ravel. Cantonese opera diva Zeng Xiaomin will sing “Every Spring,” a Chinese artistic song infiltrated with elements of Cantonese opera. Soprano Zhang Xiqiu will sing the solo parts of “Hope,” and both the SZSO chorus and children’s choir will also perform.

During the second half of the show, the HKCO will perform Peng Xiuwen’s “The City that Never Sleeps,” Chan Ming-chi’s “Jing Qi Shen,” Zhao Jiping’s “Memories” and Ng King-pan’s “Next Station Moon.”

An excerpt from “Summer Night” from “A Song of the Four Seasons,” Peng’s work depicts Hong Kong’s beautiful cityscape at night and the city’s hardworking and optimistic residents. Catching the Chinese cultural essence and aesthetics, Chan’s award-winning work tries to interpret the endless cycles of life in nature and in the continuously evolving universe. Zhao’s “Memories,” from the fourth movement of “The Desert Smoke Suite,” is a touching piece lauding the patriotism of ancient Chinese warriors. Young composer Ng’s “Next Station Moon,” written for a Chinese orchestra and piano quartet, borrows from moon-related music elements of the world and makes for interesting listening.

The joint concert is the brain child of Shenzhen’s culture, sports and tourism authorities, who have over the years worked to promote exchanges among industry insiders from Shenzhen and its neighboring Hong Kong.

The two city governments signed an agreement back in 2009 to promote cooperation and exchanges in the cultural and sport sectors.

First founded in 1977, HKCO, with its roots in the long history of Chinese culture, has performed at international music festivals and prestigious venues around the globe. The orchestra, no stranger to Shenzhen audiences, has performed multiple times here, including in past sessions of the “Belt and Road Music Season” in Shenzhen.