On April 6th, 2018, the biennial “China Orchestra Festival” of the NCPA will raise the curtain. The 23-day carnival will bring together nine domestic symphony orchestras and present 35 classical and new works of Chinese symphonic circles. On the afternoon of March 15th, a press conference was held, which introduced the highlights of the upcoming events and praised the flourishing Chinese symphony.

Since its inception in 2008, the festival promotes Chinese works. In the past decade, more than 40 domestic symphony orchestras appeared at the NCPA , staging nearly 100 concerts featuring Chinese symphonies, which is not only a brand project of the NCPA, but demonstrates the strength of various orchestras nationwide. The year 2018 coincides with the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up. With the theme, “Ode to the 40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening-up—World Language, China Story” , the festival will be characterized by nine concerts by the most unique orchestras.

LÜ Jia, music director and artistic director of the NCPA, remains committed to stay abreast on the Chinese symphony’ development undertakings since the reform and opening-up, by gaining insights of outstanding composers who grow up in the tide of reform and opening-up and their excellent symphony works that strike up a melody of the epoch, demonstrating cultural self-confidence and serving the best interpretation platform for outstanding symphony music that tells the China Story.

In the past 40 years, Chinese composers have engaged in orchestral creations blending western musical language and the voice of China to reveal more possibilities for the Chinese symphony with various themes that express reflections of the times from a musical perspective.

YE Xiaogang, chairman of the Chinese Musicians Association

As a composer growing up in the context of reform and opening-up, YE Xiaogang, chairman of the Chinese Musicians Association, is impressed by the theme of festival, “Since the reform and opening-up, Chinese symphony has enjoyed bright prosperity. The platform of ‘China Orchestra Festival’ enables art of symphonies from abroad to grow in popularity among Chinese audiences. More and more people have become aware of the charming symphony." In the festival 2018, Symphony No.5: Dedicated to LU Xun, Song of Prairie and other wonderful works, composed by YE, will be presented by the China National Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra.

The nine invited symphony orchestras boast of their own characteristics and make unified efforts for a rare Chinese symphony carnival, which include not only the China National Symphony Orchestra and National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra founded in the early days of the New China, but also the China NCPA Orchestra and other emerging national orchestras founded since the 21st Century. Newly-established Central Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra and Suzhou Symphony Orchestra will add new luster to the festival. It is worth mentioning that both symphonic newcomers and Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra will make their festival debut.

CHEN Guangxian, president of Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, also attended the press conference. As chairman of the China Symphony Development Foundation, CHEN also expressed his sincere expectation for the advancement of Chinese symphonies: “In recent years, Chinese symphonies enjoy rapid development .China Orchestra Festival of the NCPA is a pioneering initiative to promote the Chinese symphony undertakings. New highlights spring up in every China Orchestra Festival. The 6th one will be drenched with Chinese works, which will be proof of momentous support”.

In regards to repertoire design, the festival will focus on outstanding Chinese original symphonic works rooted in Chinese culture and gaining popularity. The event will be a multi-dimensional symphony salvo of imposing Chinese style. Among them, Yunnan Capriccio, Hani Impression and A Wonder of Naxi will emphasize the folk customs of ethnic minorities. Symphonic melodies of Beijing Charm, Yanhuang Style, Song of the Prairie and Fisherman’s Song on the South China Sea will depict the great rivers and mountains across China. Peking Opera Symphony, Commune Drama, Jiang Tcheng Tse and other works integrating poetry, drama, folk music and other traditional cultural essences.

A myriad of outstanding Chinese conductors will gather as well. The acclaimed Chinese conductors TANG Muhai, CHEN Xieyang, LÜ Jia, TAN Lihua will present themselves, as well as ZHANG Yi, among others. Violinists LU Siqing and WANG Zhijiong, singers SHI Yijie and SHEN Yang, pipa performer ZHANG Qiang and other artists will devote to 35 Chinese contemporary symphonies. In order to better air the “Voice of China” and tell the “China Story” , four outreach events with masters will be launched. ZHAO Jiping, YE Xiaogang, ZHANG Yi, TAN Lihua, SHI Yijie and other artists will be invited to walk down the stage and meet common people. They will interpret behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

Photos by WANG Xiaojing