Conducted by its artistic director Lin Daye, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) on Monday evening will perform a six-part symphonic poem composed by Chinese musician Zhao Lin.

The work, inspired by Song Dynasty (960-1279) painter Wang Ximeng’s “A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains,” was commissioned by a group of 23 Chinese symphony orchestras, following the proposition of famed conductor Yu Long when the League of China Orchestras held its annual forum last year.

Pianist Yuan Fang, sheng (ancient Chinese wind instrument) player Zhang Meng, pipa (Chinese plucked lute with four strings) player Fu Xixu, erhu (two-stringed Chinese fiddle) player Wang Yijing, bamboo flutist Xiao Kaidi and soprano Li Siyin will collaborate.

Like the painting, which is divided into six parts with portrayals of Chinese mountains and rivers, the symphonic poem also consists of six movements: an overture, four movements respectively featuring the sheng, pipa, erhu and piano as solo instruments, and a final movement highlighting the bamboo flute and soprano. The final movement centers around a song based on the classic Chinese poem “Gazing at Lushan Mountain From Pengli Lake” by Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Meng Haoran. With a well-contemplated and creative structure, the piece captures the essence of Chinese aesthetics, using unique Chinese music expressions.

The work was premiered in July by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra under the baton of young conductor Sun Yifan as the closing concert of the city’s 2022 Music in the Summer Air festival. That performance was streamed online to comply with COVID restrictions.

The local premiere of this exciting work was presented by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Festival Orchestra on Aug. 5 at Shenzhen Poly Theater, also conducted by Lin.

Time: 8 p.m., Nov. 7

Venue: Bay Opera of Shenzhen, Bao’an District (宝安区深圳滨海艺术中心)

Metro: Line 5 to Baohua Station (宝华站), Exit A

(Li Dan)