Violin Virtuoso Ray Chen to Perform with Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Brisbane-raised violinist Ray Chen will join the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) to perform a tribute to Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich led by former SSO Principal Conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy at the Sydney Opera House on 10-18 November.

The Taiwan-born violinist will perform Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No.1 on his 1715 "Joachim" Stradivarius violin in a program also featuring the composer's Fifth Symphony.

"Shostakovich's Violin Concerto (1947-48) emerged from a war-torn world," Chen says. "The image of the beautiful flower amidst a dystopian landscape fits perfectly, echoing feelings of loss yet hope, and plenty of depth and beauty.

"I'm really looking forward to working together with Maestro Ashkenazy whom I've admired for many years now. I'm also extremely happy to be back with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, where for an Aussie like myself, it's no small feat to be performing with such a classy orchestra!"

Performing at the 1998 Japan Winter Olympics at eight years old, Chen has become one of the most compelling young musicians today. World-renowned violinist Maxim Venegrov, with whom the SSO performed earlier this year, has described Chen as "a very pure musician with great qualities such as a beautiful youthful tone, vitality and lightness. He has all the skills of a truly musical interpreter."

With over 190,000 followers across social media and 2 million followers on SoundCloud, Chen is part of a new breed of musician utilising new ways of interacting with their fans. Chen is sponsored by Armani and has previously written for Vogue Italia.

Chen will perform in the first of two concert programs conducted by Ashkenazy. The former SSO Principal Conductor will draw on his personal relationship with the composer and his own experience in Soviet Russia.

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