Shanghai Chinese Orchestra Presents Grand Chinese New Year Concert

Wu Promotion is China's leading performing arts promoter and event organiser with over 500 concerts and events presented every year, in China and around the world.

Piu Entertainment presents classical, rock, jazz and world music concerts at high profile venues globally and recently presented concerts in London by guitar virtuoso Al Di Meola, classical piano genius David Helfgott, Belgian superstar Lara Fabian and jazz/flamenco star Concha Buika.

Piu's 2018 UK season kicks off in fine style on February 7th with The 21st Grand Chinese New Year Concert at the Barbican featuring the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra under the baton of maestro Muhai Tang (left). Shanghai Chinese Orchestra features players of traditional Chinese musical instruments and a team of highly talented soloists who will be performing at the Barbican. Established in 1952, the orchestra has developed the careers of many young musical talents and is hugely popular with Chinese and international audiences through its performance of chamber music and large-scale orchestral works. It has become synonymous with Chinese traditional music and its characteristic instrumentation of bowed strings, plucked strings, winds and percussion. This concert will give Barbican audiences a rare chance to experience the beauty of Chinese music played on traditional instruments by a highly talented orchestra.

Muhai TANG/Conductor: Muhai TANG is a world-renowned, Grammy Award-winning Chinese conducting maestro. A graduate of Shanghai Conservatory of Music he was invited by Herbert von Karajan in 1983 to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic; he served as chief conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon from 1988-2001 and has conducted orchestras in San Francisco, Queensland, Belgrade, and Finland. Muhai TANG is the son of celebrated Chinese film director Tang Xiaodan; he won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Classical Contemporary Composition for Christopher Rouse's 'Concert de Gaudi'.

Soloists :

Luo Xiaoci/Guzheng

Luo Xiaoci is one of China's top-class guzheng (Chinese zither) performers. A prolific composer and performer, she has premiered many guzheng masterpieces and has performed at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées of Paris, the Mariinsky Theatre and UNESCO's HQ among many more.

Ma Xiaohui/Erhu

Erhu (Chinese violin) virtuoso Ma Xiaohui has served as artistic director for the Shanghai Grand Theatre and as Cultural Ambassador for the 2010 Shanghai Expo. In 2001 she played for 21 presidents during APEC in Shanghai, and again in 2014 at the CICA Summit in Shanghai. Additionally, she has composed pieces for Erhu, and released over 20 CDs.

Hu Chenyun/Suona

Hu Chenyun has performed on the suona (double-reeded horn) at numerous musical festivals in China, Hungary, France, Italy, the US and more. He won the golden medal at the XIV World Winds Festival collaborated with the Orchestre National de France at the Présences Festival.

Tang Xiaofeng, Pipa

Tang Xiaofeng is the top pipa (four stringed instrument) player in contemporary China. A graduate of Beijing's Central Conservatory of Music he has performed as a soloist with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and the Taibei Municipal Orchestra among others. His first album was released in 2013 by Naxos.

Jin Kai, Dizi

Jin Kai is one of China's most promising dizi (Chinese flute) players; his style draws elements from both the elegant Southern School, and the lively Northern School. Jin Kai performs with the Shanghai Orchestra as a guest soloist and as a member of the modern opera BAO Troupe. He's also a recording artist.

Wang Yinrui, Chinese Percussion

As principal percussionist of the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, Wang Yinrui combines highly developed technical skills with an elegant stage presence. Wang Yinrui has combined the study of Chinese and Western percussion with the study of music composition in order to get an over-all comprehension of the pieces he interprets.

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