Press Conference
Since its opening in 2014, the Shanghai Symphony Concert Hall has not only been a palace for listening to music, but also a world-class recording studio. From 2014 to 2024, "Presence" has been collected for ten years, and every recorded work has been performed here, recording every touch of "Presence". The
performance lineup brings together the backbone of SJTU and visiting artists during the season. Among them, there are 70 artists participating in the recording of Shangjiao Ensemble, which demonstrates the excellent strength of the "Shanghai Chamber Music" brand. In addition, special guest artists such as tenor Ian Bostridge, violinist Ning Feng, pianist Zhang Haochen, and guitarist Yang Xuefei also participated in the recording. Top groups such as the Shanghai Quartet, Berlin Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, and Tallis Scholars Choir have also added their signature works to the album.
From the Baroque period to modern times, the repertoire spans the four hundred years of chamber music development history. Classic chamber music works by Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and others are gathered together, as well as works by composers such as Damas, Spohr and Bartók who are rarely seen in China are also presented. . In addition, there are also a number of treasure works premiered in China, such as Stephen Goss's "The Book of Songs" and Kapustin's "Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Orchestra".
"Presence"
Chamber music is mostly composed for one or several instruments. In addition to requiring musicians to have excellent personal abilities, they also need to be good at listening to other people's performances in order to achieve precise and complete artistic effects. Chamber music is also the prototype and foundation of the symphony orchestra.
"Chamber music does not have a conductor. It gives full play to the personality of the group and each person, and also requires a spirit of cooperation. The most important thing is that it can well improve our personal performance ability and the delicacy of musical expression." Oboe Chief Zhang Xin said.
Compared with symphonies with grand narratives, chamber music also provides people with a more intimate listening space, where they can get closer to the music and performers, and return to their true selves. "I like playing chamber music very much. Chamber music is the most direct dialogue between musicians." Principal bassoon Chen Dingyuan said.
"Presence"
handed over Since the founding of the orchestra, there has been a tradition of performing chamber music. As early as 1920, there was a special chamber music concert. In 1983, under the promotion of the old group leader Huang Yijun, the Chamber Music Promotion Association was established.
In 2005, chamber music performances began to reside in the concert hall at No. 105 Hunan Road where SJTU was once located. In 2010, under the leadership of music director Yu Long, "Shanghai Chamber Music" began to move towards maturity and professionalization. The concerts were always sold out, and the audience sometimes filled the corridors of the concert hall.
"When I first joined the troupe on Hunan Road, there was a chamber music performance every week, and the tickets were often sold out. I can feel that the audience really likes it, and I am very grateful for their presence and support. We can play many and Uncommon repertoire,” said principal horn Peter Solomon.
Since 1983, chamber music performances have never stopped. As of the evening of September 14, "Polaris Quartet Performs Dvořák and Weber" has been performed for the 1367th time.
The Polaris Quartet performs Dvořák and Weber. Photography by Shen Ying
Shanghai also provided the foundation for the vigorous development of Shangjiao chamber music. As written in the preface of "Presence", Shanghai has always had a good atmosphere and market acceptance potential for chamber music. "The Shanghai audience understands chamber music, whether from an artistic perspective or taking into account spiritual needs, quality of life, social attributes, and fashion flaunting. The Shanghai audience is China’s most sophisticated chamber music audience.”
The digital album of “Presence” will be launched on Apple Music, NetEase Cloud Music and other platforms in the near future.The publication of the album was supported by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Cultural Development Foundation. At the same time, eight members of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra's International Advisory Board funded the album in their personal capacity.
performance scene. Photography Shen Ying
