Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
Photo: Supplied
Asia’s oldest orchestra is returning to Auckland after half a century as part of its tour to New Zealand, Australia and Singapore.
The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, established in 1879, is known for its performance on the Grammy- and Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon soundtrack.
Leading the orchestra is music director and conductor Long Yu, who was once deemed as “the most powerful figure in China’s Western classical music scene” by The New York Times.
The 100-plus ensemble is set to present two performances at the Auckland Arts Festival in March, featuring works by prominent contemporary composers Elliot Leung and Qigang Chen.
Celebrated cellist Jian Wang and pianist Serena Wang will also play solo of works by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov.
A centrepiece of the program is Leung’s “Chinese Kitchen: A Feast of Flavours” – an evocative 10-movement suite, with each piece inspired by a traditional Chinese dish.
Long Yu
Photo: Supplied / Xu Qing
Yu said the orchestra visited Auckland in 1975 as part of a tour alongside some other ensembles from China.
“We are delighted to finally return after 50 years,” Yu said.
“I expect most of the audience will be experiencing our orchestra for the first time, so we hope they enjoy our blend of Eastern and Western repertoire, uniting audiences through music.”
Yu said the orchestra has carefully chosen its programme to pair recognisable music alongside music by leading Chinese composers that he hopes will be a unique and interesting experience for the audience.
Presenting Chinese music when touring internationally was an opportunity to introduce new audiences to this repertoire and to Chinese culture, he said.
“Elliot Leung’s piece, ‘Chinese Kitchen’, is a new work from 2024, so we are looking forward to introducing audiences in Auckland to the piece and giving them an opportunity to hear extracts from the work live on stage.”
Serena Wang
Photo: Supplied
Wang, 21, was regarded as a child prodigy who recorded her first album at the age of nine. She performed on stage with renowned pianist Lang Lang when she was eight.
Visiting this corner of the world for the first time, Wang felt “super thrilled”.
“It’s always on my travelling list, so I’m so glad that I can not only be there but also bring my music to everybody,” Wang said.
She will play Tchaikovsky as well as Chen’s “Er Huang”, which drew inspiration from the Chinese traditional artform Peking opera.
“To be able to play two repertoires on two nights – one from the standard romantic, one of the greatest piano concertos, and one to bring out this very special and subtle concerto by Chinese composer, which represents my own culture to Auckland audiences – is just very special,” she said.
Music is a “universal language”, Wang said.
“No matter what kind of repertoire it is and what kind of style … I believe that the music itself will connect to the local audience,” she said.
“One thing so incredible about live music performances is that we just all share our experiences and we somehow communicate in the same space during that moment.”
Wang said she would have to come back to enjoy more of New Zealand’s beautiful sceneries due to her busy schedule, but she would use this opportunity to experience the country’s vibrant cafe culture.
“I really want to try out coffee,” she said.
“I heard … that there [are] so many local coffee shops and I’ve heard it’s delicious.”
Bernie Haldane, artistic director of the Auckland Arts Festival, said it was “honoured to welcome the world-renowned Shanghai Symphony Orchestra”.
“This marks the first time in more than 25 years that an international symphony orchestra will perform in our city – a momentous occasion for our audiences and arts community,” she said.
“We’re especially looking forward to sharing a selection from “Chinese Kitchen: A Feast of Flavours”, a piece that reflects Chinese culture through music – a powerful reminder of how music can connect us across borders and traditions.”
The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is scheduled to perform at Auckland Town Hall on 19 and 20 March.