The Magic Notes of Zhao Jiping

If you have heard the themes from the following films and television series in China — The Yellow Earth, Raise the Red Lantern, Red Sorghum, The Story of Qiuju, The Water Margin, Farewell to My Concubine, Large Families and Swordsman — then you have heard the music scored by Zhao Jiping, currently Head of the Shaanxi Song and Dance Theatre. In June 2001, he was invited by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra as guest on the occasion when they performed his works, the ballad of Farewell to My Concubine and the symphonic poem, The Bird of the Sun.
Zhao will be present at this concert given in his honour, and the HKCO will be performing five of his orchestral pieces in different styles: the prelude Celebration Overture, the symphonic poem Monk Jianzhen Sailing Eastward, The Silk Road Fantasia Suite for guanzi and orchestra, and two compositions that are making their debut in Hong Kong: the symphonic suite Raise the Red Lantern and The Desert Smoke Suite which originated from the dance drama of the same name.
Music Director of the HKCO, Yan Huichang, has known Zhao since his Xian days. And since 1982, many of the recordings of Zhao's works have been cut under the baton of Yan. It is not very often that two kin-spirited friends can share the stage on a rare musical experience. So join them and expect energy and sparks.

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Conductor : Yan Huichang

Special Guest / Guest Conductor : Zhao Jiping

Shakuhachi : Sun Yongzhi
Guanzi : Guo Yazhi