Debra Li

debra_lidan@163.com

AFTER an almost 50-day summer break, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) will return to the stage with the commencement of their 26th music season Sept. 6. With a lineup of more than 30 concerts across five series, the orchestra is set to collaborate with top-tier soloists and conductors, offering the audience a blend of classical masterpieces, contemporary compositions, and new musical creations.

Under the baton of SZSO’s artistic director, Lin Daye, the inaugural concert will feature the highly-anticipated world premiere of “Colors” by German composer and conductor Wolf Kerschek, featuring the renowned German Brass ensemble. Kerschek, an Echo-Klassik Award and Hamburg Jazz Award recipient, skillfully weaves Western and Oriental musical influences into this refreshingly dramatic piece.

The concert will also feature Ramón Ortega Quero, the first principal oboist of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and SZSO’s principal oboist, Cui Xiaozheng as soloists, who will perform Fiorillo’s masterpiece “Sinfonia Concertante for Two Oboes.” Another highlight of the program will be Fredrik Schwenk’s “Ode to Five Elements,” with distinct rhythms and tone colors.

Led by composer Tan Dun himself, one concert in the 10-show A-lister series will showcase Tan’s “Nine Songs,” a choral concerto inspired by the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan’s verse of the same name. The program will also feature Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9 in D Minor,” best known for its final movement featuring a full chorus and vocal soloists who sing a setting of Friedrich Schiller’s poem “An die Freude” (“Ode to Joy”). Tan’s composition pays tribute to the legacy of the great classical composer.

Notable soloists featured in the series include violinist Ning Feng performing Beethoven’s “Violin Concerto in D Minor,” conductor Christian Ehwald with the Khatchaturian Trio, violist Mei Diyang showcasing Edwin Bowen’s “Viola Concerto in C Minor,” Julian Rachlin performing Prokofiev’s “Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor,” Antje Weithaas presenting Brahms’ beloved “Violin Concerto in D Major,” and piano prodigy Zhou Shanxiang alongside conductor Lyu Shao-chia interpreting works by Brahms and Schumann.

The Classical Masters series will see veteran musician Zhang Guoyong leading performances of Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto” and Shostakovich’s symphony, featuring violinist Zhu Dan. The series will also present the works by Mozart, Rachmaninoff, and Borodin. Japanese conductor Kosuke Tsunoda and violinist Huang Mengla will captivate the audience with Sibelius’ “Violin Concerto in D Minor,” while young pianist Luo Wei, a highlighted soloist of the season, will perform piano concertos by Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev.

The Special Productions series will feature collaborations with various theaters and ensembles. Renowned pianist Martha Argerich and violinist Gil Shaham will headline a concert at the Guangming Culture and Art Center on Nov. 1, performing Mendelssohn’s “Concerto for Piano and Violin,” Beethoven’s unique “Triple Concerto,” Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme,” and Camille Saint-Saëns’ “The Carnival of Animals” alongside the SZSO.

Teaming up with the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theater (SZODT), the orchestra will stage Puccini’s comic opera “Gianni Schicchi,” featuring the popular soprano aria “Oh My Dear Father,” known to movie enthusiasts from its appearance in the 2007 film “Mr. Bean’s Holiday.”

The closing show of the season, conducted by Lin, will present another Puccini classic, “La Bohème,” one of the most beloved operas of all time, headlining multiple talented young opera singers.

The Festive Celebration series has been meticulously curated to offer special shows for New Year’s Eve, the Lantern Festival, and Children’s Day in 2025. For families with children, the orchestra will collaborate with four puppeteers from Spain to stage Stravinsky’s fantasy ballet “Petrushka,” a mesmerizing tale of puppets brought to life by a magician.

The Young Talent series will shine the spotlight on award-winning conductor Dong Chao, French cellist Jérémy Garbarg, and pianist Gai Ming’ai, promising exceptional performances by these rising stars.