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Hangzhou orchestra in tune on its debut

By Nie Xin | July 29, 2009, Wednesday | Print Edition

THE future looks bright for the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra and its talented young musicians. Nie Xin reports. The newly founded Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) made its debut at the Hangzhou Grand Theater last Tuesday. The city's first philharmonic orchestra dazzled the opening-night audience and received a standing ovation.

On the same day, the Zhejiang Philharmonic Orchestra (ZPO) was announced in Hangzhou and it presented the debut concert the next day.

Symphony orchestras in the country were once reserved for cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou (Guangdong Province), but the HPO and ZPO show classical music is maturing in eastern China.

"The establishment of the two orchestras in Hangzhou changed the old pattern of classical music in China," says Bian Zushan, a renowned orchestra conductor.

Directed by Yang Yang, principal conductor of the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, the concert on July 21 included Shostakovich's "Festive Overture," Paganini's "Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major" and Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9 in D Minor."

"An overture, a concerto and a symphony - the program list seems to be very simple, but it's a standard program for a symphony concert. It can show the talent of an orchestra," Bian says.

Chinese pianist Ning Feng cooperated with the orchestra on Paganini's "Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major." Ning won the golden prize at the 51st International Paganini Violin Contest with this piece.

Many spectators were not expecting much from the debut performance of this young orchestra.

However, Bian says: "They successfully performed a wonderful concert. It probably surprised many people."

Yang was also upbeat after the performance.

"I am very confident in this orchestra and I believe the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra will be on the list of top orchestras in China within three years," Yang says.

There are now 73 musicians in the orchestra with an average age of 25. They were selected from 600 Chinese musicians in 21 countries after five stages of recruiting.

In this young team, 30 performers are overseas Chinese, one-third of whom have completed a master's or PhD degree.

The fresh faces in black tailcoats caught the eyes of spectators.

Many in the audience wore formal suits and ticket touts were more active than the usual outside of Hangzhou Grand Theater.

"The atmosphere was similar to Shanghai Grand Theater and it's very meaningful for Hangzhou to have its own philharmonic orchestra," Bian says.

Before the opening, there were a number of excited spectators with cameras. Besides media photographers, many were the parents of the young musicians.

As the musicians come from around the world, some of their parents traveled to Hangzhou with them several months in advance while they trained and rehearsed for the debut concert.

"So many musical talents from around the world are willing to join the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra. It shows how attractive this city has become," says Deng Jinshan, director of the orchestra.

The HPO will start a new series of concerts in September. The orchestra is going to play the newly composed symphonic work "Chinese Large Canal" as one of its signatures.

"The orchestra will not be limited to Western classical works," Deng says. "It will grow to feature the flavor of Hangzhou."

Chinese style

The Zhejiang Philharmonic Orchestra was established from the ashes of the Zhejiang Song and Dance Troupe.

This traditional orchestra has performed with many famous musicians like pianist Lang Lang, violist Qian Zhou, pianist Kong Xiangdong, composer and conductor Tang Muhai, conductors Zhen Xiaoying and Yu Feng.

The newly reformed orchestra appointed Tang as music director and invited Elahiu Von Erlenbach from Germany to be its principal conductor.

During the debut show, the orchestra showed off some Chinese flair as it played the Chinese symphony work "Partridge Flying."

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