Two choral concerts for weekend

A poster for Friday's concert. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Concert Hall
This weekend, Shenzhen Concert Hall has curated two distinct choral events for music lovers.
Folk music charm

On Friday evening, the Little Golden Tree Children’s Choir will present the latest installment of its acclaimed concert series, “Echoes of Traditions: Folk Music Charm.” The performance features a special collaboration with student choirs from Guangxi and Gansu, alongside ethnic musicians from these two regions and Yunnan.

Hu Manxue, artistic director of the Little Golden Tree Children's Choir.

Founded in 2019 by the Shenzhen Concert Hall, the Little Golden Tree Children’s Choir has earned widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike. In its brief yet illustrious seven‑year history, the choir has given numerous concerts, including collaborations with renowned singer Gong Linna and a participation in “Carmen,” a co‑production of the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theater and Germany’s Staatsoper Hamburg.Its signature program, “Echoes of Traditions: Folk Music Charm – Multi‑Ethnic Children’s Choir in Concert,” has been warmly received in multiple cities across China. In 2024, the choir further distinguished itself by winning Double Gold at the 13th World Choir Games in New Zealand.

The Little Golden Tree Children's Choir.

The “Echoes of Traditions” series has showcased cultural inheritors and ethnic choirs from over 20 ethnic groups across China, performing alongside Little Golden Tree not only at the Shenzhen Concert Hall but also on prestigious stages such as the National Center for the Performing Arts and the Xinghai Concert Hall. The latest program will also meet audiences in Macao on Thursday evening.For Friday’s performance, local audiences will hear familiar tunes like “Jasmine Flower” and “In That Faraway Place,” alongside Chris Artley’s “On the Road of Life” and Xingzimin Pan’s Yunnan folk‑styled “River of Lights” (“Deng Zhi He”). The ethnic musicians and choirs will perform Lahu, Naxi, and Kazakh folk songs.

Time: 8 p.m., Aug. 28

Tickets: 80–380 yuan; 512 yuan for two 320‑yuan tickets, 448 yuan for two 280‑yuan tickets, 630 yuan for three 280‑yuan tickets, and 498 yuan for three 220‑yuan tickets.

A world woven in songs

A poster for Saturday's concert.

On Saturday evening, the World Youth Choir – which performed at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Gala and at the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo – will make its debut at Shenzhen Concert Hall. They will perform timeless classical pieces alongside refreshing folk songs and contemporary masterpieces.

The World Youth Choir.

Founded as a flagship ensemble of the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), the World Youth Choir has become a global benchmark for youth choral art. Each year, the Federation selects outstanding singers aged 18 to 30 through national auditions and rigorous online assessments. To date, over 1,000 young singers from 75 countries have taken part, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music.

Zoltán Pad.

Under the baton of conductor Zoltán Pad, the choir will present a diverse program ranging from classical European harmonies to heartfelt interpretations of Chinese folk songs. Pad, a graduate of the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest and the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts, has served as chief conductor of the Kodály Choir of Debrecen and the Hungarian Radio Choir. He has also collaborated as choral director with renowned conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Harding, Péter Eötvös, and Zubin Mehta.

Time: 8 p.m., Aug. 29

Tickets: 80–580 yuan; 768 yuan for two 480‑yuan tickets, 608 yuan for two 380‑yuan tickets, 630 yuan for three 280‑yuan tickets, and 420 yuan for three 180‑yuan tickets.

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音乐厅)  

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children's Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D
Source: ShenzhenDaily