Golden Chinese Classics of the Century - Parade II

As part of the celebration programme of its 25th anniversary, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO), together with Radio 4 of Radio Television Hong Kong, has invited eight other orchestras in mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore to join it in a worldwide event - the Golden Chinese Classics of the Century - Polling for the Most Popular Chinese Works of the 20th Century. The nine orchestras have selected 48 works from the vast repertoires of Chinese music. For the final round, 10 out of this shortlist of 48 will be chosen by vote from music fans all over the world. In tandem with this historic event that would launch Chinese music onto a global scale, four "Parade" concert series will be held as the polling enters the final round. The Parade II brings to you two concerts featuring the best known pieces in Chinese music performed by virtuosi and the HKCO under the baton of Qu Chunquan, current Conductor of Taiwan National Experimental Chinese Orchestra. In the first concert, Min Huifen, renowned erhu artist will perform the winning composition by Liu Wenjin, The Great Wall Capriccio. Choo Boon-chong, Assistant Dizi Principal of the HKCO, will be giving his interpretation of Bangdi Concerto, the composition that won composer Ma Shuilong international limelight. In the second concert, pipa recitalist Tsui Hung will be performing Hua Mulan by Gu Guanren, while Hsin Hsiao-hung, Erhu Principal and Lo Chun-wo, Assistant Gehu Principal of the HKCO, will join hands in a performance of The Seventh Fairy Maiden Fantasia. Come and enjoy the rich tapestry of sounds in Chinese music!

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13.12.2002 (Fri)

Dance of the Yao Tribe
Liu Tieshan and Mao Yuan
Orch. by Peng Xiuwen

Moonlight over Spring River Ancient Melody
Arr. by Qin Pengzhang and Luo Zhongrong

Bangdi Concerto
Ma Shui-long Arr. by Chen Chong-sheng
Bangdi: Choo Boon-chong

Chance Encounter Ng Tai-kong

Erhu Concerto The Great Wall Capriccio
Liu Wenjin
Erhu: Min Huifen

14.12.2002 (Sat)

A Gathering of Celestials Yan Huichang

Double Concerto for Erhu and Gehu
The Seventh Fairy Maiden Fantasia Wu Hua
Erhu: Hsin Hsiao-hung
Gehu: Lo Chun-wo

Pipa Concerto Hua Mulan Gu Guanren
Pipa: Tsui Hung

Dabo River Capriccio He Xuntian
Allegro Singers

Conductor : Qu Chunquan

Erhu: Min Huifen,
Hsin Hsiao-hung
Pipa: Tsui Hing
Gehu: Lo Chun-wo
Bangdi: Choo Boon-chong

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Conductor Qu Chunquan

• A conductor of international renown and a National Class One Conductor of China, Qu has been at various times of his career Principal Conductor of Shanghai Folk Orchestra, Guest Conductor of the Central Folk Orchestra, Associate Music Director and Conductor of Singapore Chinese Orchestra. He has been Conductor of the Taiwan National Experimental Chinese Orchestra since 1999. He also teaches at the National Taiwan Academy of Arts and the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan.
• He got many credits granted by different Bureaus of China. He was invited to be on the panel of judges in international and national music competitions. His brief biography can be found in The International Who's Who of Intellectuals (in English) and the Chinese Who's Who in Contemporary Arts in China, A Dictionary of Who's Who on the Contemporary Chinese Music Scene and A Dictionary of Musicians in China.

Erhu Min Huifen

• A National Class One Performer in China, Min was noted for her passionate erhu solo performance style with substance, touching but not affected. Her most impressive renditions include the northeastern folk piece Torrent of the River. She gave performances in various places in Europe, the USA and Asia and won critical acclaims. Min also composes for erhu and her works include Capriccio on Theme from the Great Lake.
• Min has won numerous credits since 1963. At the height of her career, Min became a victim of illness but managed to make a successful return when she played the erhu concerto The Great Wall Capriccio with the Central Folk Music Orchestra in 1987. Her performance aroused explosive and sensational audience response. In 1998, she won the accolade as an "Artist of Integrity and Artistic Excellence" presented by the National Federation of Writers.

Pipa Tsui Hung

• A native of Ning Bo, Zhejiang Province, renowned pipa performer Tsui Hung is a member of Chinese Musicians' Association. In 1976, she joined the Ethnic Music Ensemble of the Shanghai Opera Theatre as a solo performer and Pipa Principal. She won a distinguished award at the Shanghai Young Performers' Gala in 1978, and gained a Class Two Award at the National Pipa Competition in 1980. She has won critical acclaims for her superb artistry for her performances aboard in early years.
• After settled in Hong Kong, she has performed as a guest pipa soloist with many local orchestras or artistic groups. In her performances she has played considerable modern pipa pieces as well as traditional ancient melodies. Tsui Hung's artistry is sophisticated, passionate and has lasting appeal with both dynamic and tender flavours.

Erhu Hsin Hsiao-hung

• As a renowned huqin performer and one of the awardees of Ten Outstanding Young Persons 2002 (Hong Kong), Hsin Hsiao-hung is currently the Erhu Principal of Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. She has a passionate style that is at the same time endowed with subtlety, and her interpretations have full of a moving quality that plucks at her listeners' hearts. She is acclaimed as "an outstanding performer of the younger generation."
• She gave a highly successful performance with Yo-Yo Ma and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in the Hong Kong Arts Festival 2002 and won wide acclaim.

Gehu Lo Chun-wo

• A prize-winning cellist and gehu soloist, Lo is the recipient of the Outstanding Performance Award at the National Cello Competition in China. He is currently the Assistant Gehu Principal of the HKCO. Lo was, at various times of his career, Principal Cello with two professional orchestras in China, and a teacher at the Department of Music of the Beijing Central University for Nationalities, the Sichuan Institute of Film and Television in China and the Music Office of Hong Kong.
• "Lo Chun-wo's gehu fully exposes the exotic flavour, whether in terms of bowing techniques or fingering. His music is a fine instrumental interpretation of the voice..."(Ta Kung Pao)

Bangdi Choo Boon-chong

• A dizi performer from Singapore, Choo joined the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in 1979. He is currently the Assistant Dizi Principal of the HKCO, the Chairman of Hong Kong Bamboo Flute Society and also a member of the Chinese Winds Instrumental Association. He has been an adjudicator of the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival as well. His forte is in the bangdi, demonstrating excellent fingering and breathing techniques and ease in the upper register.
• Choo was a perennial winner at the inter-school Chinese Instrumental competitions in Singapore. He was previously a musician of Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra and the Singapore Peoples' Association's Chinese Orchestra respectively and once performed in the first Festival of Asian Arts in Hong Kong. Over the years, he has performed at various places in Europe, the USA and Asia.