Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts - Concert Hall
Date: April 21, 2018
Duration: Approximate 120 mins
Programme
ZHU Jian’er
A Legend in Naxi Ethnic Minority Group
DU Mingxin
Violin Concerto No. 1
Violinist: WANG Zhijiong
BAO Yuankai
Peking Opera Sinfonia
Conductor: ZHANG Yi
ZHANG Yi is the Music Director and Principal Conductor of National Ballet of China. He enjoys special allowance from the State Council, and is listed in the “Four one-batch” Programme initiated by the Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of China.
ZHANG Yi started learning the violin at the age of five, and was recommended for admission to Department of Conducting, Central Conservatory of Music in 1990, where he studied under famous conductor professor XU Xin and JI Ruikai. From 2000 to 2003, he studied for a Master’s degree at Hochschule für Musik Saar.
ZHANG Yi participated in concert, opera and ballet performances with a lot of famous Chinese and foreign orchestras, such as China National Symphony Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Macao Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Germany Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Württemberg Chamber Orchestra of Heilbronn, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Australian Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Cuba Symphony Orchestra and Royal Swedish Opera. He has been to Europe, America, Australia and Asia, and partnered with many famous Chinese and foreign artists, such as Leonidas Kavakos, Emmanuel Pahud, Wenzel Fuchs, Renaud Capucon, Thibaudet, ZHENG Minghe, ZHANG Yongzhou and Lang Lang. The King and Queen of Malaysia admire him very much, and the local news media also speaks highly of him, “(ZHANG Yi is) a brilliant, incredible and attractive young conductor”.
ZHANG Yi conducted the Chinese premiere of many Chinese and foreign works, such as Stravinsky’s The Soldier's Tale, YE Xiaogang’s Nine Horses, CHEN Qigang’s Extase and Raise The Red Lantern (ballet), Mozart’s Mass in C minor and Rossini’s Stabat Mater. In addition, he has made many records of Chinese and foreign works, such as YE Xiaogang’s symphonic music works published by Wergo, and the British work album made with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and cellist QIN Liwei for DEECA. In May 2012, he won the outstanding contribution award from the Beijing Modern Music Festival for conducting the performance of a great many contemporary Chinese and foreign music works.
His presence at major national events is also a common occurrence. For instance, at the celebration held in 2007 in honour of the 10th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s Return to China and the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, ZHANG Yi conducted and recorded most of the music performed, including the Olympic theme song You And Me. In November 2015, ZHANG Yi led the National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra to the Palace of Nations, Geneva, Switzerland and held the “Five Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council Concert” to mark the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Swiss diplomatic relations, the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and the 70th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. In March 2017, he led China NCPA Orchestra to the United Arab Emirates to attend the Abu Dhabi Art festival, and achieved success.
Presenter: National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1959, National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra is affiliated to National Ballet of China. ZHANG Yi is Music Director and Chief Conductor, and LIU Ju is Permanent Conductor.
In the early stage of this orchestra, Chinese conductors including LI Delun, HAN Zhongjie, HUANG Feili, HUANG Yijun, LIN Kechang and other famous conductors have cooperated with this orchestra.
Since the reform and opening up in China, led by Mrs. ZHAO Ruheng (former President of National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra), this orchestra has made considerable progress in art production. When world-famous French conductor Jean Perrsion performed in China, he personally paid a visit to this orchestra and offer instructions. Ashley Lawrence (Chief Conductor of National Symphony Orchestra of Peru) and Peter Larsen (Chief Conductor of the Royal Danish Ballet) joined hands with the orchestra for concerts. In addition, under the baton of such famous Chinese conductors as LI Guoquan, BIAN Zushan, HU Bingxu, CHEN Zuohuang, TAN Lihua, HU Yongyan, LI Xincao and YANG Yang, ballet dramas and symphony concerts, presented by this orchestra, are highly praised.
Since the early 21st century, under the leadership of current President FENG Ying and Music Director ZHANG Yi, this orchestra vigorously holds concerts and stages a number of works created by musicians during different eras and with different styles at NCPA Concert Hall. This orchestra has also cooperated with Max Pommer (famous German conductor, Music Director of MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of Sapporo Symphony Orchestra), German conductor Schumolfs, famous German cellist Gustav Rivinius, famous tenor Jose Carreras, famous pianists Lang Lang, CHEN Sa and TAN Xiaotang, violinists Lu Siqing, NING Feng, HUANG Mengla, ZHU Dan and WEN Wei, Li-Wei Qin, famous Japanese animation musician Joe Hisaishi and many other world-class maestros.
