Orchestra's towering ambitions

Tower Ascending is dedicated to Joseph W. Polisi, the sixth president of the Juilliard School, who, during his 34-year presidency, led the school to new heights, including founding its first overseas campus in China.

Opened in 2020, the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra is a relatively young ensemble made up of graduate students from the school's orchestral performance, chamber music and collaborative piano programs.

As the orchestra's resident conductor, Ken Lam says that Tower Ascending presents a significant challenge for the ensemble, as it calls for intricate orchestral techniques and a deep understanding of its sonic landscape.

"The piece requires a nuanced approach," Lam says.

"It's not just about playing louder or faster, but about creating structure within the music — building it up and breaking it down in a way that reflects the energy and beauty of the world's great buildings."

Following Oquin's contemporary piece, the orchestra will turn to the classical tradition with Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major, K 364, for solo violin and viola with orchestra.

Composed in 1779, the piece will feature two resident faculty members from the Tianjin Juilliard School, violinist Li Weigang and violist Li Honggang — brothers and soloists — who will be performing together in the symphonic concerto form. Both are also members of the renowned Shanghai Quartet.

"This piece combines the intimacy of chamber music with the grandeur of a symphony. It's a perfect fit for the ensemble-focused approach we emphasize at Tianjin Juilliard. I'm excited to collaborate with my brother and our students on this special work," Li Weigang says, expressing his enthusiasm.

The concert will culminate with one of the 20th century's most explosive pieces: Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring.

Known for its riotous premiere in 1913, The Rite of Spring remains a monumental piece of modern music, one that redefined orchestration, rhythm and the very concept of musical expression.

"The musicians bring an energy to the piece that's electrifying," says Lam.

"It's as if we're experiencing it through the lens of their youthful enthusiasm. There's a special kind of excitement in the air."