A music feast for Spring Festival holiday

A poster for Shenzhen Concert Hall's special program for the Chinese New Year.

Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Concert Hall

While the Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions, friend gatherings, and sumptuous feasts, it also serves as an opportunity to unwind and nurture one’s soul after a year of hard work.
To cater to this need, Shenzhen Concert Hall has curated five online concerts and three live shows to accompany fans during the holiday season.

Online concerts
From Jan. 29 to Feb. 1 and on Feb. 4, five online concerts will be livestreamed on the WeChat Channel of Shenzhen Concert Hall (ID: szyinyuet) and its official Bilibili account.

Lin Daye, music director of SZSO.

On the day of the Spring Festival (Jan. 29), the concert will feature the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) led by music director Lin Daye. Together with guest performers such as erhu player Yang Xue, accordion player Xu Xiaonan, flutist Zheng Di, soprano Tian Siying, and tenor Ma Teng, the orchestra will present familiar Chinese melodies like “Ode to the Red Flag,” “I Love You, China,” and “The Story of Spring.” The chorus of the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theater, along with SZSO’s chorus and children’s choir, will also appear at the concert.

Hu Manxue, artistic director of the Little Golden Tree children's choir.

On Jan. 30, the Little Golden Tree children's choir led by artistic director Hu Manxue will offer a concert titled “Echoes of Traditions: Folk Music Charm — Multiethnic Children’s Choir in Concert.” Singer from Tajik, Blang, and Jino ethnic groups will perform alongside the children.

This program, recognized for its folk music charm, has won wide acclaim in various Chinese cities. The choir, in its short existence of five years, has collaborated with renowned artists like singer Gong Linna.

Performers for the concert on Jan. 31.

The Jan. 31 concert will feature erhu player Meng Xiaoxu, yangqin player Chou Wanning, and pianist Chen Xiaomeng alongside the Yuyue Chamber Orchestra. Together, they will present captivating renditions of popular tunes like “War Horse Galloping” and “Why Are the Flowers So Red?”

Secret Garden.

On Feb. 1, fans will be treated to a heartwarming concert by Secret Garden, where timeless hits such as “Nocturne,” “Beautiful,” “Sleepsong,” “The Reel,” “Hymn to Hope,” and “You Raise Me Up” will be performed. The band, consisting of Norwegian composer and keyboardist Rolf Løvland and Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry, has a rich discography and is a top-selling artist on the Universal Classics & Jazz label.

Shuofeng Chamber Orchestra.

Feb. 4 will see the Shuofeng Chamber Orchestra taking the audience on a journey to explore the beauty of traditional Chinese instruments through a blend of crossover and modern compositions. Expect to hear traditional melodies like “The Charm of Beijing Dialect” as well as scores from films and games like “The Greatest Showman” and “League of Legends.”

Live shows

Zunling Zhixiu Chinese chamber orchestra.

On Feb. 2, Zunling Zhixiu, a Chinese chamber orchestra specializing in Cantonese music, will entertain the audience with familiar melodies perfect for the festive mood of the Chinese New Year. Attendees can enjoy tunes such as “Higher Step by Step” (“Bu Bu Gao”), “Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon,” and “Dance of the Golden Snake,” among others. The group, comprising talented young musicians adept at Chinese instruments, has received accolades such as the Golden Bell Award and performed alongside acclaimed artists like baritone Liao Changyong and pianist Lang Lang on international stages.

Performers for the concert on Feb. 3.

On Feb. 3, flutists Liu Yang, Lin Xiaoyu, Cao Qinghui, and Qiu Yue, accompanied by pianist Wang Zhen, will appear at a vibrant chamber concert themed around the spring season. The program will include Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite,” “Dances for Two Flutes and Piano” by Gary Schocker, and the first movement from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” alongside a medley of cheerful Chinese compositions.

On Feb. 12, under the baton of Peng Jiapeng, artistic director of the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra will present a concert to celebrate the Lantern Festival. The program will feature “Chinese Sights and Sounds,” a suite of 24 pieces composed by Bao Yuankai in 1991. Bao, a recipient of the Golden Bell Award in music composition, has created an extensive body of works spanning symphonies, chamber music, cantatas, musicals, film scores, and children’s songs.
His elaborate piece for the Shenzhen concert draws inspiration from folk tunes across diverse Chinese regions, including North China, Northwest China, Yunnan, Sichuan, the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and areas around the Taihang Mountains.Fans can find more details and reserve tickets via the official WeChat account of Shenzhen Concert Hall.
Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station , Exit D

Source：ShenzhenDaily