Orchestral music lovers in Croydon have the rare opportunity to experience one of Asia’s most revered orchestras this March, as the China Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) performs at Fairfield Halls on Friday 22 March on its first ever UK tour.
Its debut UK tour will see more than 100 musicians on stage presenting a fantastically wide-ranging and impressive programme. It includes the UK’s first live orchestral performances since its release over 20 years ago of film score excerpts from the Academy Award-winning hit movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which blends Chinese ceremonial and classical music together in action-packed drama. The film score was composed by Tan Dun, who is also the SZSO’s principal honorary conductor.
The programme also features Mahler’s ‘Titan’ First Symphony and Chausson’s Poème, a fantastical story about a woman seduced by a former lover with an enchanted violin, for which the SZSO will be joined by acclaimed and internationally renowned violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen.
Since the orchestra was founded over 40 years ago in Shenzhen, the city has transformed from a small fishing village into China’s third most populous city and a global technology hub. The SZSO grew from this backdrop and now represents the rich culture of Shenzhen, under the direction of Daye Lin, one of the most exciting young conductors in China.
Daye Lin, music director and principal conductor, says: “It has been a dream of mine for a long time to bring the China Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra to the UK and we can’t wait to perform for UK audiences across the country. We hope to welcome orchestral audiences new and old – we’ve created a programme that includes moments of exciting drama, serene beauty, and virtuosic brilliance, which we know British audiences will enjoy.”
Tamsin Waley-Cohen, solo violinist, says:
“After touring China in 2019, it will be a joy to have this rare opportunity to perform with a Chinese orchestra in Britain, especially one as exciting as the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the supremely talented Daye Lin. We will be performing two pieces by Chausson and Saint-Saens, both of works that enthralled me playing them as a teenager, and now I am finding great joy in revisiting them. I can’t wait to bring them to audiences around the UK.”
Fairfield Halls in Croydon is celebrated for its world-class acoustics. This concert forms part of a yearlong orchestral series at the venue featuring orchestras from around the world. On behalf of Fairfield Halls, Steve Turner, Associate Director of Venues adds: “We are absolutely delighted to host the China Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) for their UK tour finale. Whether new to classical music or a lifelong devotee, this evening and its sumptuous programme promises to delight and enthral. Tickets available now at fairfield.co.uk.”
UK 2024 tour dates and venues
Mon 11 March Birmingham Symphony Hall
Wed 13 March Cadogan Hall, London
Thu 14 March Sheffield City Hall
Fri 15 March Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Sun 17 March Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Mon 18 March Perth Concert Hall
Wed 20 March The Anvil, Basingstoke
Fri 22 March Croydon Fairfield Halls
For further information about the tour, visit: https://imgartists.com/roster/china-shenzhen-symphony-orchestra-10-22-march-2024/
ENDS
Photos available for download here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/oxww37vudqukf8qn8skw5/h?rlkey=71qxroxbws7wdwysfnksthhr5&dl=0
For all media enquiries, please contact:
Caitlin Bowring / Catherine Frankpitt
Additional information
Programme
TAN DUN – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Overture (soloist: Jiapeng Nie, cello)
CHAUSSON – Poème (soloist: Tamsin Waley-Cohen, violin)
MAHLER – Symphony No. 1
Tan Dun Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (excerpts)
Excerpts from the Academy Award-winning film score for Ang Lee’s fantasy martial arts world, the popular film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, open this sumptuous programme. Tan Dun’s celebrated and atmospheric Oscar-winning score blends together Chinese ceremonial and classical music, Western and Eastern instruments, in an action-packed drama.
Chausson Poème
This beguiling piece from French composer Ernest Chausson, one of the most underrated figures of the Romantic era, tells the fantastical story of how a young woman is seduced by a former lover who possesses an enchanted violin. From the sounds of nature and peasant dances, to folksongs, hunting calls and a funeral march, the Poème is introspective and utterly beautiful.
Mahler Symphony No.1
Mahler’s monumental First Symphony, known as the Titan, reflects the composer’s vision of a symphony embracing the world. Full of all the energy and drive of Mahler’s youth, it features one of the most exciting finales to have ever been written.
About Daye Lin
Daye Lin has been the music director and principal conductor of Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) since 2016 and is one of the most exciting young conductors in China.
He is also the special guest conductor of China National Symphony Orchestra, associate director of Composition & Conducting department at Shanghai Conservatory of Music, adjunct professor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Conservatory of Music, key member of First-Class Orchestra Talent Cultivation and Practical of Shanghai Innovation Team, board member of Chinese Musicians Association and member of Shanghai Youth Association.
He has received the He Luting Art Achievement Award for year 2020 and 2022, China National Arts Fund Youth Performing Artist 2020 and in 2012 he won the 6th International Conductors’ Competition Sir Georg Solti.
He has successively studied under Prof. Xu Xin, a conductor educator from the Central Conservatory of Music, Prof. Zhang Guoyong from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and Prof. Christian Ehwald of the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin, Germany, and obtained the Konzertexam certificate.
In 2009, Daye Lin was the resident conductor of Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra. Between 2009 to 2015, he was appointed as permanent conductor of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra (GSO) and made several concert tours with the GSO in homeland and overseas. In 2012, he won the first prize at the 6th Sir Georg Solti International Conductors Competition which held in Frankfurt, Germany and being the first Chinese recipient of this competition. Same year, he has awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award by Guangdong Musicians Association.
Up to now, Daye Lin has led the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra to tour around China and countries such as Germany, United States, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Canada, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria,and Hungary. He has conducted SZSO at the Ljubljana Festival, Radiro – International Radio Orchestras Festival, Emilia Romagna Festival, Merano Festival, Donizetti Festival, Festival delle Nazioni, Shanghai Spring International Music Festival among other international music festivals.
About Tamsin Waley-Cohen
Born in London, acclaimed violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen enjoys an adventurous and varied career. In addition to concerts with the Royal Philharmonic, and London Philharmonic, she has twice been associate artist with the Orchestra of the Swan in Warwick and works with well-known conductors including Vasily Petrenko, Ryan Bancroft and Tamás Vásáry.
She is thrilled to be a Signum Classics Artist. With her sister, composer Freya Waley-Cohen, and architects Finbarr O’Dempsey and Andrew Skulina, she held an Open Space residency at Aldeburgh, culminating in the 2017 premiere of Permutations at the Aldeburgh Festival, an interactive performance artwork synthesising music and architecture. Her love of chamber music led her to start the Honeymead Festival, now in its twelth year, from which all proceeds go to support local charities.
She is a founding member of the Albion string quartet, appearing regularly with them at venues including Wigmore Hall, Aldeburgh Festival, and the Concertgebouw. In 2016-2017 she was the UK recipient of the ECHO Rising Stars Awards, playing at all the major European concert halls and premiering Oliver Knussen’s Reflection, written especially for her and Huw Watkins. In the 2018-19 season she toured Japan and China, and gave her New York Debut recital at the Frick.
She is Artistic Director of the Two Moors Festival, and has previously been Artistic Director of the Music Series at the Tricyle Theatre, London, and the Bargello festival in Florence. She studied at the Royal College of Music and her teachers included Itzhak Rashkovsky, Ruggiero Ricci and András Keller.
About Jiapeng Nie
Jiapeng Nie is currently a cellist at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music, Guangzhou, and School of Music at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. He is also the board member of Shenzhen Cello Association, and Vice Chairman of Shenzhen Young Musicians Association.
Jiapeng Nie was enrolled at the National University of Singapore Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the age of 16 under the tutelage of renowned cello player Li-Wei Qin. At the age of 20, he was awarded a full scholarship to study for a master’s degree at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hamburg, Germany, where he studied with the renowned cello master Arto Noras. He was granted Germany’s highest degree, ‘Konzerexamen’ at the age of 26.
As one of China’s most vibrant cellists, Nie Jiapeng has been performing all over the world and has been recognized by the Washington Classical Review as a cellist with a luminous and beautiful tone.
Nie Jiapeng has successfully collaborated with the China Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, BBC National Symphony Orchestra of Wales, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, among others. As well as performing at the most prominent festivals in Europe, he has been invited to perform concertos and recitals at the Ljubjana Music Festival, Carniarmonie Festival, Emilia Romagna Festival, Ravello Festival and many others.
About the SZSO
Founded just over 40 years ago, the China Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra has distinguished itself with the excellence of its playing, fast becoming one of Asia’s leading orchestras.
In the late 1970s, the fishing village of Shenzhen began its transformation into China’s third most populous city and global technology hub. Against this backdrop, the orchestra was founded and now, under the baton of famous young conductor and music director Daye Lin, represents the rich culture of Shenzhen on the world stage. Its principal honorary conductor is Tan Dun, composer of the Academy Award-winning film score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
After decades of hard work the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra has become a strong orchestral force both at home and abroad. It has spread the voice of Shenzhen on the international stage and won the respect of its peers. SZSO is recognized as one of the outstanding professional symphony orchestras in China and has become a beautiful business card for Shenzhen.
As of 2007, famous Chinese conductors Yao Guanrong, Zhang Guoyong, and Yu Feng have served as principal conductors and music directors of the orchestra. From 2008 to July 2016, Professor Christian Ehwald, a famous German conductor and director of the Conducting Department of the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler, served as music director.
Throughout the years, the orchestra has cultivated long lasting collaborations with great artists and orchestras at home and abroad; composers such as Chen Gang, Huang Anlun, Lü Qiming, Tan Dun, Tang Jianping, Wang Danhong, Wang Ning, Ye Xiaogang, Zhang Qianyi and Eric Kunzel; conductors such as Chen Xieyang, Chen Zuohuang, Huang Xiaotong, Hu Yongyan, Li Delun, Lü Shao-Chia, Li Xincao, Shui Lan, Tang Muhai, Zheng Xiaoying, VIadimir Fedoseev, Daniele Gatti, Günther Herbig, Kirill Petrenko, Daniel Oren, Edvard Tchivzhel, Guido Johannes Rumstadt, Lior Shambadal and Michael Foster; famous performers such as Chen Sa, Lang Lang, Lü Siqing, Nie Jiapeng, Ning Feng, Qin Li-Wei, Qian Zhou, Wang Jian, Xue Suli, Yuan Fang, Zhu Dan, Zuo Zhang, Arto Noras, Oxana Yablonskaya, Paik Kun Woo, Antje Weithaas, Midori, Renaud Capuçon and Diana Tishchenko as well as famous singers Dilber Yunus, Dai Yuqiang, He Hui, Huang Ying, Liao Changyong, Lei Jia, Shen Yang, Shi Yijie, Wu Bixia, Wang Lida, Yin Xiumei, Zhang Liping, Jose Carreras, Carlow Struly among others.