Chao News Client Reporter Li Jiaoyan Correspondent Yang Sixuan Tomorrow, Hangzhou will usher in a grand concert. On July 20, the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a 15th anniversary celebration concert of the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hangzhou Grand Thea

Chao News Client Reporter Li Jiaoyan Correspondent Yang Sixuan

Tomorrow, Hangzhou will usher in a grand concert.

On July 20, the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a celebration concert for the 15th anniversary of the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hangzhou Grand Theater with the theme of "Love Years".

Time is a ruler and years are a witness. Fifteen years ago, the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra was born on the bank of the West Lake with music. Over the past fifteen years, this orchestra has continuously pursued artistic peaks, dared to challenge and made breakthroughs, and has become one of the top first-class symphony orchestras in the country.

Today, I will walk into the story of this first-class band in China with Youfeng Jun.

Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra’s 15th Anniversary and 2024-2025 Music Season Press Conference. Photo courtesy of the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra

The 15th anniversary of its founding

In the spring of 2009, Hangzhou had a symphony orchestra named after its own city - the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra.

In its debut performance in 2009, the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra shocked the Chinese symphony world with its difficult performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. "The starting point is amazing and the potential is extraordinary." This is everyone's unanimous evaluation of this new band.

Looking back on the past fifteen years, the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra has performed countless wonderful concerts. From the classics of classical music to the innovative exploration of modern music, from the perfect interpretation of world famous songs to the wonderful presentation of local works, every performance is devoted to the hard work and enthusiasm of the orchestra members.

Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra performance scene. Photo courtesy of Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra

The orchestra has cooperated with internationally renowned musicians many times, and together they have brought one musical feast after another to the audience, such as Gennadiy Rozhdestvensky, Kristo husband Penderecki, Zubin Mehta and many more. These cooperations have not only improved the performance level of the orchestra, but also allowed the world to see the strength and charm of the Chinese orchestra.

To welcome the closing of the 2023-2024 music season, Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a 15th anniversary celebration concert of the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hangzhou Grand Theater on July 20 with the theme of "Love Years". The concert will present "Line", a work commissioned by Hangzhou-born composer Zhou Tian for the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, and "Line" for piano and orchestra, adapted by artist-in-residence Xiao Genzhen for the 15th anniversary of the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra. "Oberek Dance" celebrates the orchestra's fifteenth anniversary with musical notes.

ushering in the 16th music season

The Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra is about to go through fifteen years, enter its sixteenth youth, and usher in the 2024-2025 music season. In its 16th music season, the orchestra used "Eternity" as its title throughout the season, with 20 season concerts, 4 chamber music and multiple popular concerts, spanning time and countries, bridging the gap between the East and the West. A musical bridge that connects eternal music.

Friendship dancing with the melody. This season of , Hangai has invited Jacek Kaspuchik, David Leland, Markus Stanz, Alexander Lahbari, Christian Amin, and Vasily Shin. Neisky, Jonathan Darlington, Shui Lan, Zhang Guoyong, Li Biao and other outstanding conductors at home and abroad. In addition, the orchestra will also cooperate with Fanny, Yin Jiongjie, Li Jingzhan, etc., the "back wave" in the Chinese conductor circle, in popular concerts to make friends through music and promote each other.

In terms of performers, the orchestra invited pianists Ivo Pogorelic, Michel Dalberto, Sheng Yuan, and Chen Sa; violinists Noah Bendix-Balgley, Liu Yunzhi, Ning Feng, Qian Zhou, Li Yuhe, Zhou Ying; viola player Yao Shanshan, cellist Qin Liwei, Chen Yibai; wind instrument players Gu Cong, Man Yi, Chen Guang, Liu Yang; singers Simon O'Neill, Huang Yazhong, Brian Mulligan , Thomas Thomason, Bijani Christiansen, Anna Danik, Liu Yanhua, Li Jingjing and many other well-known artists at home and abroad. I believe that the arrival of these old and new friends will bring new highlights to Hangzhou. .

climb to the peak of artistic fortification.The opening concert of the next season of will perform two commissioned works, from Jin Yong's "Chinese Martial Arts" to the world premiere of the duet concerto "Channel" for violin and viola; the closing concert of the next season will feature "Old Xiao" Together with six soloists, he completed the complete collection of Shostakovich's piano, violin and cello concertos. In the special performance of Griel's concerto, Annalin Lenaz, principal harpist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, will be the soloist, and rare works such as "Fergana Festival" will also be performed on the stage.

Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra performance scene. Photo courtesy of the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra

In addition, the orchestra is progressing on its two "big music projects": it will take four years to perform the complete series of Wagner's immortal operas "The Ring of the Nibelung", and last year's magnificent "Die Walküre" has already been performed. Sound the horn, this year "Siegfried" will continue to stage the magnificent "Ring Show" with the original cast. After the "2024 Bruckner Project" successfully completed six performances last season, the sixteenth concert season will be taken over by three conductors: Jacek Kaspuchik, Alexander Lahbari, and Christian Amin. Complete the self-challenge of performing Bruckner's complete symphonies in one year.

pays tribute to the master of sound illumination. The Orchestra will launch the "Tribute" and "Eternal" series of concerts in the 16th concert season, covering many music masters. In addition to the Bruckner series, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich's death will be a highlight of the season. In addition, the orchestra will also launch programs commemorating the births of Holst, Ravel, Griel, and Ives. Concerts for the 150th anniversary, the 160th anniversary of the births of Nielsen and Sibelius, and the 110th anniversary of the death of Scriabin. In addition to serious classical music, we also arrange annual New Year concerts, children's concerts, relaxed and enjoyable chamber music, popular concerts and other performances.

Chamber music includes Ramon Ortega Cuero and the Chamber Orchestra of the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra performing Mozart's chamber music works. Resident conductor Hong Yin will also perform a chamber music version of Mahler's "Fourth Symphony" and "Traveler's Song" and other classics to show the delicacy and depth of chamber music. Popular concerts include classic works by masters such as Haydn, Mozart, Chopin, Dvořák, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky.

A new music season, a new journey, let’s explore the beauty of classical art together in Hangzhou.