Chamber Charms: Virtuosic Bowed Strings

Taking the stage on 7 November 2025 is Virtuosic Bowed Strings with our very own huqin masters Li Baoshun and Zhao Jianhua,in a showcase of bowed string classics. The programme includes Liu Tianhua’s masterpieces New Year’s Eve Ditty (also known as Nocturnal Peace), Towards A Bright Future and Hymn of Idleness, presented in both ensemble and erhu solo format. Other selected works include Nostalgia, rich with nostalgia and emotion. Farewell at Yangguan Pass, a poetic reimagining of the ancient farewell poem by Wang Wei; and Ballad of Yubei, a piece that pits two musical themes against each other in constant development, echoing the transforming spirit of Chinese people in the North before and after liberation. The Virtuosic Bowed Strings concert, first performed during the pandemic in 2021, was critically acclaimed and is now returning to the live stage, continuing the legacy of classic works while elevating the art form to new heights.

Chamber Charms: Virtuosic Plucked Strings

On 27 February 2026, Virtuosic Plucked Strings brings together three of SCO’s most distinguished plucked string musicians — Huang Guifang, Qu Jianqing, and Yu Jia — in a vibrant programme celebrating the richness and versatility of plucked Chinese instruments. Blending the elegance of southern melodies with the vigour of northern traditions, the concert draws inspiration from opera, storytelling, and folk traditions across regions, including Guangdong and Henan. Highlights include The Conqueror Unarms a poignant portrayal of Xiang Yu’s final moments; Night Escape of Lin Chong, an intense and theatrical retelling of the famed hero’s flight from injustice, performed with Yangqin and percussion; as well as Variations in Three Positions and Charms of Tanci, which encapsulate the wit and spirit of regional Chinese musical narratives.