Singapore, 12 November 2013 (Tuesday) – Do you know that sheng is one of the oldest Chinese instruments which has over 3000 years of history? Do you know that western instrument – cello is one of the important family members in many Chinese orchestras? Discover the mysteries of these two instruments at the one-night only A Musical Conversation of Sheng and Cello concert on 7 December 2013, 8pm at SCO Concert Hall. SCO Resident Conductor Quek Ling Kiong conducts.
Numerous historical records have mentioned the sheng as an important instrument in ancient music, popular in the imperial palace and in court processions. The first appearance of the word “sheng” is in some of the poems of Shijing (Book of Odes), dating back to the 7th century BC. Wu Wei, an avant-garde sheng soloist, has contributed to develop this more than 3000 years old ancient instrument into an innovation force in contemporary music. Breaking away from traditional performing techniques, Wu Wei has charmed audiences the world over. He has collaborated with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio France and other renowned orchestras. In addition to many prestigious national and international competitions for traditional Chinese music, he won the German Musica Vitale Competition in 1996 and 2002, and the Global Root folk prize in 2004. In 2011 he won the Herald Angels Award by Edinburgh International Festival. In his first collaboration with SCO, Wu Wei will perform a sheng concerto specially composed for him by German composer Enjott Schneider titled Earth and Fire and a sheng solo piece Pan Se Diao.
Most Chinese orchestras use the cello as the lower register bowed-string instrument. The cello possesses a wide variety of differing tone colors and means of expression, ranging from the calm and solemn in the lower register to bursts of passion in the uppermost register. In this concert, SCO’s cello principal, Xu Zhong, will take on Tang Jian Ping’s interpretation of Genghis Khan’s exploits in a cello concerto – Genghis Khan Capriccio. Xu Zhong studied at the School of Music at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, as a post-graduate student in cello performance and chamber music in 2000. In 2004, he held his solo graduation concert and graduated from the Conservatory with distinguishing results. He joined the SCO in 2004 and is currently the orchestra’s cello principal.
SCO will also perform an arrangement by Tang Jian Ping – New Century Concert Overture, one of the four famous nanyin scores – The Plum Blossoms Story – arranged by Law Wai Lun, and silver prize winner in the first “Golden Bell Awards” of the Chinese Music 2011 – Liu Yuan’s The Legend of Shadi’er.
SCO aims to enhance the awareness and exposure of the Sheng instrument. Wu Wei is conducting a masterclass – Discover the mysteries of Sheng with Wu Wei – on 3 December 2013, 7.30pm at Singapore Conference Hall. Admission is free. Anyone interested are welcome to attend.
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| Conductor: Quek Ling Kiong | Sheng: Wu Wei | Cello: Xu Zhong |
Concert details:
A Musical Conversation of Sheng & Cello
Date: 7 December 2013 (Saturday)
Time: 8pm
Venue: SCO Concert Hall
Ticket Prices: $55, $45, $35/$19*, $25/$14* (exclude SISTIC fee)
Tickets from SISTIC
*Concession prices
Masterclass: Discover the mysteries of Sheng with Wu Wei
Date: 6 December 2013 (Friday)
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Singapore Conference Hall, Exhibition Hall
Admission is free
To register: 6557 4037 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please contact Media Officers for more information, photographs and interviews.
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Pang Ze Shuen
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