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December 29, 2010

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HomeCity specialsHangzhou

Year ends with a musical finale

WHEN the traditional Chinese instrument guqin is mixed with the Thai dance Khon, Tibetan Buddhist chant, Burmese music and modern dance, it creates an amazing show that fans of Asian music shouldn't miss.

Tomorrow evening at Hangzhou Grand Theater, "Harmony Between Gods and Men - a religious conversation between music and body" will make its dazzling debut performance.

Combining four top Asian musicians and a Tibetan monk, the show features performances combining guqin (plucked seven-string instrument) pieces, Burmese music played by piano, traditional Thai dance Khon and modern dance.

In addition, special guest Geliegama Longduojiacuo, a Tibetan eminent lama specializing in Tibetan Buddhist mgur-glu (meaning song), instruments and dances, will perform three chants throughout the show.

The unique performance was initiated by Wu Na, a guqin master well-known as an active cross-boundary musician and a renovator of guqin playing, who has been trying to mix guqin music with jazz, rock and other music styles.

"Guqin is one of the oldest Chinese musical instruments, and Khon is the oldest dance of Thailand; while piano and contemporary dance are modern," explained Wu. "So the audience cannot expect what it will be like."

The show also adopts mysterious Buddhist chants. "Tibetan Buddhist chant is very beautiful," said Wu. "I have actually been thinking for a long while to include it to perfect a large-scale work."

Though there are many elements, the performance won't be too mismatched, because the piano plays traditional Burmese music, while Tibetan chants and Thai dance both have religious meaning, plus "Khon and guqin music are somehow related as they are both slow," said Wu.

The sumptuous lineup includes Pichet Klunchun, the noted Thai dancer who combines Khon with contemporary dance; pianist Kit Young who is from America but plays traditional Burmese music since she has lived in Thailand and Myanmar; and Zhao Liang, a young Chinese modern dancer who has been awarded many international prizes.

The troupe will then move to Beijing on New Year's day for their second show.

With the new year coming, a number of concerts are taking place in Hangzhou Grand Theater.

The acclaimed Oberlin Orchestra from America will perform with renowned conductor Timothy Weiss and celebrated violinist Lee-Chin Siow.

The three-year-old Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra will present the annual Hangzhou New Year Concert on Friday evening. Famous Chinese violinist Lu Siqing, pianist Sun Yingdi, soprano Dilber Yunus and tenor Zhang Jian will also participate in the concert.

Meanwhile, a tribute to the French light music legend, Paul Mauriat, Jean-Jacques Justafr茅, who collaborated with the late composer for a long time, will conduct his Grand Orchestra to play 34 pieces.



? Oberlin Orchestra

Date: Today, 7:30pm

Tickets: 180-1,680 yuan

? 'Harmony Between Gods and Men'

Date: Tomorrow, 7:30pm

Tickets: 80 yuan, 150 yuan

? Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra

Date: December 31, 7:30pm

Tickets: 60 yuan, 100 yuan, 180 yuan

? New Year Concert of Paul Mauriat's Music

Date: January 1, 7:30pm

Tickets: 180-880 yuan

Venue: Hangzhou Grand Theater, 39 Xinye Rd, Qianjiang New Town

Tel: (0571) 8685-5118


 

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