GSYO SYMPHONIC CONCERT

The Guangzhou Symphony Youth Orchestra (GSYO) is an affiliate of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra (GSO). Founded in July 2011, it is the first ever youth orchestra in China organized and administered by a professional orchestra. On May 13, 2012, the GSYO appeared on stage for the first time, and to date has performed more than 100 concerts at home and abroad.
The GSYO’s regular performance venue is the Xinghai Concert Hall. Beginning in September 2015, the GSYO established its own concert season, the first of its kind among China’s non-professional orchestras. Among its collaborators were Yo-Yo Ma, Long Yu, Tan Dun, Jian Wang, Li-wei Qin, Zhang Haochen, Siqing Lu, Chen Sa and Gao Can. The GSYO has represented the municipality of Guangzhou on numerous friendship tours and cultural exchange programs around the world, visiting such cities as Frankfurt, Berlin, Sydney, Jakarta, Singapore, Lyon, Prague, Riva del Garda, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona and Verbier. It has also appeared in numerous Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Chengdu, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Tianjin. Wherever it goes, the GSYO garners critical and popular acclaim.

Conductor: Jing Huan
Cellist solist: Li-Wei Qin
Pipa solist: Zhang Qiang
Violin solist: Teo Gertler

Franz Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2," the most famous of his Hungarian Rhapsodies, was composed in 1847 and is based on the Hungarian folk dance "csárdás." This dance consists of two parts: the first part, "lassan," meaning "slow," is music for a solo dance. The second part, "friss," meaning "fresh," is characterized by a rapid, lively tempo and is music for a couple's dance. The piece begins by immediately immersing the listener in a colourful and rich depiction of folk life. The melody then slows and becomes solemn, as if recounting a sorrowful past, expressing the Hungarian people's grief and protest over their national misfortunes, as well as their resilient and tenacious character. The second part depicts scenes of people joyfully dancing during folk festivals. The wild dance steps, soaring melodies, and rapid rhythms showcase the bold, optimistic, and passionate nature of the Hungarian people. After the musical climax, there is a moment of pause. The dancers leave, but soon gather again as the music resumes with renewed fervour, culminating in an exhilarating and spirited finale.

Zhao Lin - Cello and Pipa Concerto "A Happy Excursion"
"A Happy Excursion" was jointly commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, the Beijing Music Festival, and the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra. This double concerto for cello and pipa draws its title from the classical Chinese essay "A Happy Excursion" by Zhuangzi. The musical content is inspired by the essay's imagery of forgetting the self and the material world, embodying a state of ease and detachment. It reflects on the spiritual life of ancient Chinese scholars and artists. Using the language of symphonic music, the piece intertwines the delicate and lingering sounds of the pipa with the profound and expansive tones of the cello, expressing a contemporary yearning for a free spiritual world and the pursuit of a happy and beautiful life.
It had its world premiere on October 26, 2018, during the closing concert of the 21st Beijing Music Festival at the Poly Theatre, conducted by Yu Long, with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pipa player Wu Man performing. The U.S. premiere took place in March 2019 at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center, conducted by Yu Long with the New York Philharmonic.

Qigang Chen - Qigang Chen - Instants d'un Opéra de Pékin
Originally commissioned by the 2000 Messiaen International Piano Competition and "Liberté New Music," Chen Qigang composed a solo piano piece. In 2014, it was commissioned by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to be adapted into a symphonic prelude, which was featured in the opening concert of the Shanghai Symphony Hall.
Chen Qigang stated that the inspiration for this work, themed around "Peking Opera," comes from his childhood immersion in traditional opera within his family. Although his exposure to Peking Opera seemed to cease after he entered the Central Conservatory of Music Affiliated High School, his memories gradually resurfaced when he studied under Messiaen in France. He began to experiment with integrating traditional Chinese elements with Western compositional techniques, thereby forming his unique musical language.
Messiaen once noted that Chen Qigang's works exhibit true creativity and exceptional talent, as well as a perfect fusion of Chinese thinking with European musical concepts. This piece is a perfect example of that integration.

Igor Stravinsky - The Firebird suite (1919)
The "Firebird" suite comes from Stravinsky's ballet of the same name, which was his breakthrough work. The story of the ballet is based on Russian mythology. While hunting in the forest, a prince captures a Firebird but releases it after hearing its plaintive cry. In gratitude, the Firebird gives the prince a golden feather, which he can use to summon the Firebird in times of danger. The prince sets out to rescue Princess Zarevna, who is imprisoned by the evil sorcerer Kashchei. As Kashchei is about to use magic to turn the prince to stone, the prince shakes the feather to summon the Firebird. The Firebird causes Kashchei and his minions to dance wildly until they are exhausted, and then lulls them to sleep with a lullaby. The prince takes this opportunity to smash the egg containing Kashchei's soul, causing the sorcerer and his followers to perish. Everyone celebrates the marriage of the prince and Princess Zarevna, and the Firebird flies away amidst the joyous cheers.
The composer adapted the ballet music into concert suites in 1911, 1919, and 1945. The version most frequently performed at concerts is the 1919 arrangement. This is the suite commonly referred to as the "Firebird" suite, which is the most famous and frequently performed of the three suites. The suite is divided into four sections: Introduction The Firebird and its Dance – Variation of the Firebird, The Princesses' Khorovod (Rondo), Infernal Dance of King Kashchei, Lullaby, Finale.

Programme is subject to change!