Concert Season 24/25 | Virtuoso Series 乐季24/25 | 八音荟萃系列
By Gu Wei
Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) presents Feng Ya Song, under the baton of distinguished conductor Liu Ju who leads the orchestra through a diverse and evocative programme. The concert features SCO’s erhu and cello principals, Zhao Jianhua and Xu Zhong, in the first half, and concludes with the grand Feng Ya Song Symphony in the second half, joined by soprano He Miya, tenor Zhuang Jie, and the VOS City Chorus, led by chorus master Chong Wai Lun.
The concert begins with Variation of Emotion, a work by Liu Changyuan that aims to explore a wide range of emotions expressed through music. The theme of the variation is based on southern folk melodies, which are then developed through a set of fifteen variations. These variations unfold across three movements, each painting a unique emotional landscape. From nostalgia and longing in the first movement, to joy and liveliness in the second, and finally to a powerful and dramatic climax in the third, this piece promises to take the audience on an evocative and emotional journey.
The programme continues with the world premiere of Of Light and Shadows, a double concerto for erhu and cello by local composer Phang Kok Jun. In this piece, Phang juxtaposes the two bowed string instruments, highlighting the contrast between both—the deep, resonant cello that represents shadows, against the bright and agile erhu that symbolises light. As the two instruments engage in a musical dialogue, their distinct voices reflect the interplay between light and darkness. Of Light and Shadows embodies SCO’s vision of promoting music with a distinctly Singaporean character, reflected in its blend and intertwining of contrasting timbres, voices, and musical traditions.
The second half of the concert presents the highlight of the evening: The Feng Ya Song Symphony, a monumental orchestral work by renowned composer Zhao Jiping. Drawing inspiration from classical Chinese poetry, including verses from the Book of Songs (Shijing) and Tang poetry (tangshi), this five-movement symphony pays tribute to China’s profound literary and musical heritage. This piece was premiered in 2019 by the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra as part of the “To a New Era” concert in Beijing, which celebrated the richness of Chinese culture and the resilience of the Chinese spirit. Each movement offers a glimpse into China’s history, values, and aspirations.
One of the most striking features of The Feng Ya Song Symphony is its use of chorus, adding grandeur and depth to the work. From Beethoven’s iconic 9th symphony, to later symphonies by Liszt, Mahler, Stravinsky, and by local composers such as Leong Yoon Pin, choral symphonies often give the piece an additional level of monumentality that is put forward by the larger scale, wider timbral palette and additional dimension of text. In this symphony, the chorus joins forces with the Chinese orchestra, effectively creating a Chinese choral symphony that integrates traditional musical elements with symphonic form.
Following the Singaporean premiere of The Feng Ya Song Symphony in 2019, this performance marks a significant moment in the local musical scene, as it occurs amidst evolving dialogues about the future of music in Singapore, offering us an opportunity to reflect on the future musical direction of Singaporean music. The concert's programme is thoughtfully curated to guide the audience through a journey that begins with introspection and exploration of our inner selves in Variation of Emotion, moves through collaborative expression in Of Light and Shadow, and culminates in a celebration of cultural heritage in The Feng Ya Song Symphony.
文/ 顾威
《风雅颂》是由著名指挥家刘炬执棒，带领新加坡华乐团为观众呈现一场充满情感与文化深度的音乐会。这场音乐会不仅展现了华乐的魅力，更以音乐为桥梁，连接了传统与现代、东方与西方，带领观众踏上一段跨越时空的艺术之旅。音乐会的上半场由新加坡华乐团二胡首席赵剑华与大提琴首席徐忠联袂演绎，两位音乐家用琴弦对话，展现了东西方乐器的独特魅力。下半场则以气势磅礴的《风雅颂之交响》压轴，女高音何米亚、男高音庄杰以及由张伟伦指挥的新声城市合唱团也将倾情献唱。
音乐会以刘长远的《抒情变奏曲》拉开序幕。这部作品如同一幅情感的画卷，通过三个乐章细腻地描绘了人类情感的丰富层次。第一乐章以柔美的旋律表达了思念与淡淡的哀伤，仿佛将观众带入一个充满回忆的世界；第二乐章则以欢快的节奏展现了生活的喜悦与活力；第三乐章则通过激昂的旋律与幽默的对比。这部作品不仅是音乐的盛宴，更是对人性情感的深刻探索。
接下来是由本地作曲家冯国峻受邀为此次音乐会所创作的二胡与大提琴双协奏曲《光∙影》。这部作品以二胡与大提琴的对话为核心，展现了光与暗的交织与碰撞。大提琴的深沉音色如同“影”，二胡的明亮旋律则象征着“光”，两种乐器在舞台上展开了一场充满张力的音乐对话。随着旋律的推进，光与影逐渐融合，最终达到和谐的统一。这部作品不仅展现了新加坡华乐团对本地音乐的支持，也体现了多元文化背景下音乐的创新与融合。
音乐会的下半场迎来了当晚的重头戏——赵季平创作的《风雅颂之交响》。这部作品以《诗经》与唐诗为灵感，通过五个乐章展现了中华文化的深厚底蕴与民族精神的伟大力量。从第一乐章《序–颂》中中华民族的坚韧不屈，到第二乐章《关雎》中唯美的爱情故事，再到第三乐章《玄鸟》对英雄情怀的赞颂，第四乐章《幽兰操》对高洁品德的歌颂，以及第五乐章《国风》对民族精神的宏大礼赞，这部作品如同一幅壮丽的历史画卷，带领观众穿越时空，感受中华文化的博大精深。
值得一提的是，合唱团的加入使这部作品显得更为庄严、厚重。从贝多芬的《第九交响曲》到李斯特、马勒、斯特拉文斯基以及本地作曲家梁荣平的作品，合唱交响曲往往通过更大的规模、更丰富的音色和文本的额外维度，赋予作品一种纪念碑式的庄严与肃穆。在《风雅颂之交响》中，合唱与华乐团的完美融合，创造了一种独特的音乐语言，既保留了传统的韵味，又展现了现代交响乐的宏大格局。这种中西合璧的表现形式，不仅让观众感受到音乐的力量，也体现了华族音乐文化在新时代的传承与创新。
新加坡华乐团演出的《风雅颂之交响》标志着新加坡音乐史上的一个重要时刻。继2019年本地首演后，本次演出正值新加坡音乐未来发展的讨论不断深化之际，让观众可以在观演中对此多加思考。从《抒情变奏曲》中对内心情感的探索，到《光∙影》中光与暗的哲学思考，再到《风雅颂之交响》中对中华文化的深情礼赞，这场音乐会带领观众从个人情感的微观世界，走向民族精神的宏大叙事。在新加坡这个多元文化的交汇之地，这场音乐会也为观众提供了一个思考文化传承与创新的契机。