As the saying goes, "Good rain knows the season, and spring brings forth all things." Recently, the Beijing Chinese Orchestra performed the Chinese Four Seasons: Rainwater concert at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Under the baton of renowned conductor Zhang Lie, together with famous Chinese instrumentalists such as Cui Junmiao and Hu Yulin, the orchestra used music to depict the poetic scene of spring rain nurturing all life.

The "Chinese Four Seasons" concert series, based on the 24 solar terms, has been a key project of the Beijing Chinese Orchestra for eight consecutive years. The first concert of the 2025 season focused on the solar term Rainwater, symbolizing the awakening of all things. The program featured a collection of works revolving around the hopeful spring rain and nature, slowly unfolding a vibrant spring landscape for the audience.

The concert began with the classic Chinese orchestral piece Spring by Lu Lianghui. This was followed by the ethnic orchestral piece The Small River Flows based on classic folk songs, immersing the audience in the damp and fresh atmosphere of spring. Famous liuqin and ruan player Cui Junmiao then performed Courtyard After the Rain, using the bright and clear sound of the liuqin to vividly depict the scene of a courtyard after rain, showcasing her superb liuqin skills.

The concert also featured Sky Rain, a piece for flute and orchestra composed by Hu Yulin, a flute virtuoso and associate professor at the Central Conservatory of Music. Hu Yulin's bamboo flute performance interpreted the ever-changing nature of rain—sometimes tender, sometimes lively, and sometimes mysterious. "I was deeply impressed by this piece when I conducted Hu Yulin's solo concert," said Zhang Lie. "When preparing for this concert with the Beijing Chinese Orchestra, I immediately thought of Sky Rain. Hu Yulin has a unique perception of the misty rain scene. Besides playing in the normal flute position, he innovatively altered his playing technique, creating excellent synergy with the orchestra."

Additionally, the concert featured the large-scale ethnic orchestral work Endless Life and Zhang Lie's own composition, The Water of the Yellow River Comes from the Sky, a piece for wind instruments and percussion. Both works, depicting the symbiosis between nature and humanity, left a deep impression on the audience. In particular, The Water of the Yellow River Comes from the Sky highlighted the robust vitality of the Yellow River and the deep affection the people living along its banks have for their "Mother River."

The concert concluded with the festive ethnic orchestral piece Unforgettable Water-Splashing Festival, immersing the audience in the joyful atmosphere of the grand celebration, as if they were part of the Water-Splashing Festival themselves.

This concert also marked the opening of the Beijing Chinese Orchestra's 2025 music season. This year, the orchestra celebrates its 10th anniversary. Orchestra director Wu Xuhai introduced a series of colorful events to celebrate the milestone, including ten original concerts showcasing the orchestra's achievements in composition and performance, as well as ten thematic seminars. These activities aim to promote the development of Chinese ethnic music and enhance the public's understanding and appreciation of traditional music.

Translator: FENG Haoxuan

Reviewer: BAI Jing