The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Presents EAST MEETS WEST with Wu Man, 3/29-30

Festive red Chinese lanterns and elaborate knots decorate Kleinhans Music Hall in honor of pipa virtuoso Wu Man's debut with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, taking place at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 29 and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 30 at Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo in an M&T Bank Classics Series concert titled "East Meets West."

The décor was provided by the University at Buffalo Confucius Institute. The Institute's mission is to promote the international study of Chinese language and culture. In its four years of existence, it has sponsored Chinese language classes, Chinese New Year celebrations, student and teacher exchanges, and Experience China camps.

Prior to the Saturday evening performance, UBCI will provide exhibits and demonstrations in the lobby on calligraphy, paper cutting, traditional tea ceremony, and medicine. A large contingent of UBCI supporters will attend the concert.

Wu Man is a native of China determined to introduce global audiences to the 2000-year-old Chinese pipa and bring the instrument into the modern era. She performs regularly with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project, and in 2013, was the first traditional musician to be named Instrumentalist of the Year by Musical America magazine. She has been featured on PBSNewsHour with Jim Lehrer. In 2011, she was the first Chinese musician featured on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series. She was awarded The Bunting Fellowship at Harvard University in 1998, and was the first Chinese traditional musician to receive The United States Artist Fellowship in 2008. She is also the first artist from China to perform at the White House. She will be signing CDs after both concerts.

Wu Man will perform Zhao Jiping's Pipa Concerto. Written expressly for her, this piece is in its debut season. The March 29 and 30 performances will mark the New York State premiere of the work. Zhao Jiping is well-known as a film composer in China, scoring movies such as "Farewell My Concubine" and "Raise the Red Lantern."

In a statement, Jiping said, "I see the piece not so much as a traditional concerto, but more an exploration of poetic expression of thoughts and emotions, able to stimulate many levels of the audience's imagination. The orchestra and Wu Man are the canvas and I have the privilege to paint the picture."

The concerts will be conducted by Matthew Kraemer, and will also feature "The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan" by Charles Griffes and "Nocturnes" by Debussy. One hour prior to the concerts, the audience can take part in a discussion and question-and-answer session in "Musically Speaking," sponsored by Uniland. Tickets are available by calling (716) 885-5000 or visiting bpo.org.

As Buffalo's cultural ambassador, the Grammy Award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the leadership of music director JoAnn Falletta presents more than 100 concerts each year. Since 1940, the orchestra's home has been Kleinhans Music Hall, a National Historic Landmark with a reputation as one of the finest concert halls in the United States. During the tenure of JoAnn Falletta, the BPO has rekindled its history of radio broadcasts and recordings, including the release of 27 new recordings on the Naxos and Beau Fleuve labels. For more information about the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, visit www.bpo.org.