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Singapore, February 13, 2025 – This March and April, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) will enchant audiences with two captivating concerts as part of its “Virtuoso Series”—”Dreamscapes: Pang Kapang and SCO” and “Feng Ya Song: Liu Ju and SCO.” These concerts showcase the distinctive beauty of Chinese orchestral music while weaving together narratives of emotion, history, poetry, and imagination, offering listeners an extraordinary journey through time and culture.
Dreamscapes: Pang Kapang and SCO
Curated by SCO’s Yangqin Principal Qu Jianqing and conducted by Pang Kapang, “Dreamscapes: Pang Kapang and SCO” transports the audience into an enchanting realm where dreams intertwine with reality. Featuring a carefully selected repertoire, this concert offers emotional depth and dramatic tension, guiding listeners through themes ranging from the mysteries of dreams to vibrant cityscapes and legendary tales.
Highlights:
- Dreamscapes – A mesmerizing erhu concerto by Liu Changyuan, performed by Xu Wenjing, SCO’s gaohu musician. Divided into ten segments, each movement unfolds a different dream narrative, creating an immersive emotional journey with profound depth and masterful technique.
- Macau Capriccio – A suite by Wang Danhong, this work captures Macau’s unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures across five vivid movements—“The Light of the Church,” “Portuguese Festival,” “Fishing Song,” “Yearning,” and “Fireworks,” painting a musical portrait of the city’s rich heritage.
- Gan Jiang Mo Ye Fantasia – Inspired by the legendary story of the master swordsmiths, this piece unfolds through four movements—“The Oath,” “Snow-capped Peaks”, “Inferno,” and “Nirvana” ,evoking themes of devotion, resilience, and transformation.
Feng Ya Song: Liu Ju and SCO
Curated by SCO’s Erhu I Principal Zhao Jianhua and conducted by Liu Ju, “Feng Ya Song: Liu Ju and SCO” embarks on an evocative dialogue between Chinese and Western strings, blending the distinct sounds of the erhu and cello. SCO’s erhu I principal Zhao Jianhua and cello principal Xu Zhong will present the world premiere of a new double concerto Of Light and Shadows, specially composed by young local talent Phang Kok Jun. Additionally, the concert features Chinese orchestral classics and grand choral works that showcase the rich expressive potential of Chinese music.
Highlights:
- Of Light and Shadows (World Premiere) – A groundbreaking work double concerto by Phang Kok Jun, this piece harmonizes the lyrical qualities of the erhu with the resonant depths of the cello, crafting a fresh and moving musical dialogue.
- The Feng Ya Song Symphony – Composed by Zhao Jiping, this expansive work draws inspiration from the ancient verses of the “Book of Songs” and “Tang poetry”, blending orchestral, vocal, and choral elements to evoke poetic grandeur and profound cultural heritage.With soprano He Miya, tenor Zhuang Jie, and the VOS City Chorus, this piece gains added depth and emotional richness, inviting audiences to experience the splendor of Chinese heritage through the harmony of music and poetry.
- Variation of Emotion – A signature work by Liu Changyuan, celebrated for its lyrical melodies and delicate emotional nuances, highlighting the expressive richness of Chinese orchestral music.
These two concerts promise to transcend boundaries—melding traditional and contemporary, personal and historical, Eastern and Western. Audiences are invited to experience the vast artistic expression and deep cultural resonance of Chinese orchestral music. A truly unmissable event for music lovers!
