Shenzhen hosts symphonic oratorio

The symphonic oratorio, Song of the Big Wind, was staged at Shenzhen Concert Hall on Oct 18, featuring musicians from China and the United States.

Premiering at the California Opera in 2011, the production, by lyricist Guo Ke and composer Chen Lechang, had its Chinese premiere in 2012 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

The production, performed by the A-Sharp Chorus from the US, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theater Chorus Opera Troupe, and Guangzhou Yangcheng Children's Chorus, depicts the political ideals of Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). Through its four acts, the production intertwines solos, choruses, instrumental sections, and dialogue, illustrating Liu's rise to power and his vision of unifying a fractured nation. The Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra featured various traditional instrument musicians, enhancing the performance's richness.

Notable soloists included Li Xiuying, Yuan Lu, and guest artist Fang Liya. Li previously performed excerpts of the production in San Francisco. Her performance, marked by a blend of traditional operatic styles and Western techniques, captivated audiences.

A-Sharp Chorus is one of the largest Chinese chorus groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was established in 2000 and now has over 70 members, featuring scientists, teachers, and technical professionals in many fields.

Besides presenting masterpieces from different repertoires by Bach, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Rachmaninoff, among others, members of A-Sharp Chorus have written lyrics for their own oratorios commissioned to music by renowned Chinese composers.

In 2011, the chorus premiered Song of the Big Wind with the Symphony of Silicon Valley Orchestra.