Singapore, 24 June 2015 (Wednesday) – Renowned Taiwanese conductor Chen Tscheng-Hsiung returns after 17 years to conduct SCO on 25 July 2015 (Saturday) at SCO Concert Hall. Accompanied by Taiwan’s “Voice of the Suona” Tseng Chien-Yun and SCO dizi musician Zeng Zhi, the concert Harmonies from Taiwan – A Night with Chen Tscheng-Hsiung will indulge you in musical feast and wallow in lingering memories.
A prominent conductor who straddles the worlds of both Chinese and Western music, the 75 year-old Chen Tscheng-Hsiung opens the concert with one of his rearrangements – an opening fanfare of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, a work that was originally premiered in 1954 to celebrate the anniversary of the October Revolution.
SCO dizi musician Zeng Zhi will present Taiwanese composer Chung Yiu-kwong’s Whirling Dance, which was originally composed for world-renowned flutist Sharon Bezaly. Whirling Dance is filled with melodic turns with tempo ranging from slow to fast, and develops into smooth and long phrases. It showcases the technique of circular breathing, as if the “whirling dancer” is living in the immediate present. Chen Tscheng-Hsiung will then conduct SCO in Chinese-American composer Han Yong’s Three Realms of Tibet, a piece composed according to ‘yin-yang compositional techniques’ and incorporating elements from Tibetan folk music to portray the spiritual interaction between heaven, earth and the human world.
Tseng Chien-Yun was the first prize winner of Taiwan National Chinese Orchestra’s “Voice of Suona” and was voted for the most popular award in 2014. She will perform suona concerto Lion Dance, by Taiwanese female composer Lu Yun. Lion Dance is a form of traditional Chinese folk art performed on festive occasions. She will use suona to demonstrate the spectacle celebrative scene in six interesting sections which include drawing of the lion’s eyes, waking up of the lion, teasing of the lion, welcoming the divine, firecrackers and ending of the parade.
Lastly, Chen Tscheng-Hsiung will direct SCO in a large-scale composition by Chinese composer Liu Chang Yuan – Memories. Memories was world premiered and directed by him three years ago. This piece will have its Singapore premiere through this concert, and will bring the audience through feelings of nostalgia and passion in life.
Conductor: Suona: Dizi: Zeng Zhi
Chen Tscheng-Hsiung Tseng Chien-Yun
Concert details:
Harmonies from Taiwan – Chen Tscheng-Hsiung and SCO
Date: 25 July 2015 (Saturday)
Time: 8 pm
Venue: SCO Concert Hall
Ticket Prices: $70, $60, $45/$30*, $30/$20* (exclude SISTIC fee)
Tickets from SISTIC
*Concession prices
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