On October 6th, a martial arts poetry fantasy audio-visual drama will be staged at the Poly Theater. The so-called "The Dream of Becoming a Knight, A Long-standing Aspiration of Literati for a Thousand Years", Tan Dun's "Martial Arts Trilogy" tells the martial arts dream that belongs exclusively to the Chinese people. Conductor and composer Tan Dun turned his sword into music, using music to interpret the philosophy and artistic conception of Chinese martial arts culture, and telling his own music martial arts dream. As an old friend of the Beijing Music Festival (BMF), Tan Dun will conduct the China Philharmonic Orchestra to present this symphony and high-definition multimedia visual feast for everyone.

In the year 2000, the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" became a cultural icon for international understanding of China. The film score, composed by Mr. Tan Dun, won the Oscar for Best Original Score. The emotional colors conveyed by the music complemented the film, greatly enhancing its appeal and making it a classic. Since then, the "musical martial arts dream" has taken root in Tan Dun's heart, and he has subsequently composed film scores for "The Banquet" and "Hero" at the Beijing Music Festival (BMF).

Tan Dun's audiovisual drama "Martial Arts Trilogy" consists of four interconnected concertos: Cello Concerto "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", Violin Concerto "Hero", Piano Concerto "The Banquet", and "The Triple Resurrection".

The "Martial Arts Trilogy" originated from the film music created by Tan Dun for three movies. In the films, the three female protagonists sacrificed their love and lives for different reasons: in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," Yu Jiaolong did it for her martial arts dream; in "Hero," Feixue did it for patriotism and revenge; and in "The Banquet," Wan'er did it for power and desire. For Tan Dun, collaborating with three internationally renowned film masters, Li An ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"), Feng Xiaogang ("The Banquet"), and Zhang Yimou ("Hero"), not only perfectly combines Chinese martial arts philosophy with audio-visual art through music but also brings rich Chinese humanistic spirit and traditional philosophy to the world stage. In "Martial Arts Trilogy," Tan Dun interprets the martial arts philosophy in his heart and portrays the persistence of three women towards love, life, and martial arts dreams.

In the cello concerto "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", the music style is melodious and mournful, and the cello represents the image of Yu Jiaolong. She is a woman who pursues her dreams in the martial arts world, and the melody of the cello depicts her struggles in the three themes of "power, sacrifice, and choice" throughout her life. The piece is performed by young cellist Nie Jiapeng and the China Philharmonic Orchestra, with the cello and orchestra connecting and setting the plot, telling the story of Yu Jiaolong.

The violin concerto "Hero" tells an ancient story of sacrifice for revenge and country, where the protagonist, Feixue, sacrifices love. The violin, representing the female lead, expresses anger and sadness through its melody, with dissonance and exotic elements mixed in. "Hero" won the Best Original Film Music Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards, and in this year's Beijing Music Festival, it will be performed by world-renowned violinist Daniel Hope. When a Western violin master plays this music with strong Eastern flavor, what kind of sparks will be ignited?

In the piano concerto "The Banquet," the piano represents the image of "Wan'er," who chases power and desire, leading to her loss of life and love. It tells the story of the interweaving of power and desire in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Young pianist Sun Jaya interprets Wan'er's love and hatred through the piano, imitating the sound of ethnic instruments and depicting the shadows of swords and knives, leading the audience to feel the ancient Eastern charm.

"The Triple Resurrection" was commissioned by the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra to commemorate Richard Wagner (1813-1883) and "The Ring" on the occasion of the composer's 200th birthday.

Performance Information

Date: Friday, October 6th, 19:30

Venue: Beijing Poly Theatre

Piano: Jaya Sun

Violin: Daniel Hope

Cello: Nie Jiapeng

Orchestra: China Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Tan Dun