Five international composers - Kalevi Aho, Michael Gordon, Robin Holloway, Augusta Read Thomas and Sebastian Currier -are touring the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and the provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou from Sept 11 to 23 to learn about China's natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Commissioned by the National Center for the Performing Arts of China (NCPA) and a number of other international organizations, they will compose musical works after being inspired by their trip to China. The works are due in August 2012 and will be performed at two concerts, titled Composing China in October 2012 at NCPA.
Since its founding in 2007, the center has commissioned music works from a number of Chinese composers, such as Ye Xiaogang and Guo Wenjing. Composing China is an effort by the center to build an international repertory themed on China.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Music Special: Orchestra brings both history and music appreciation
Young musicians, aged 18 to 25 from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan have been asked to take part in a concert series commemorating an important moment in Chinese history.
So, for the past two weeks, starting Aug 7, the Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra has joined the Central Conservatory of Music's chorus, for concerts in Macao, Taipei, Shanghai, Wuhan, Nanjing, and, for the finale, Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall the night of Aug 19 - all for the 100th anniversary of China's Xinhai Revolution of 1911.
These included an opera piece, Song of Eternal Lament, adapted by musician Zhou Ye, the Song of Fate, of Brahms, and Dvorak's Symphony No 9 (From the New World).
This was in fact the debut of the operatic Song of Eternal Lament, which was originally created in 1932, by Huang Zi, one of the most important Chinese composers of that time.
Huang was responding to the 'Sept 18 Incident' of 1931, when Japanese forces occupied northeastern China in the first stage of their invasion of China. He used the opera to express both his anger over the war and love of the motherland, through a tale of the Tangminghuang emperor, of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).
Jimson Hoi Kin Wa, president of the Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra Assoc, described the reason behind the recent event, "We share a period of important history that's hardly known by youngsters these days. The music acts as a bridge to let them learn more about the history of that period.
"We're honored to be a part of this meaningful tour and were careful with our music selection, considering well-known songs and some Chinese operas to fit the celebration."
So, for the past two weeks, starting Aug 7, the Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra has joined the Central Conservatory of Music's chorus, for concerts in Macao, Taipei, Shanghai, Wuhan, Nanjing, and, for the finale, Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall the night of Aug 19 - all for the 100th anniversary of China's Xinhai Revolution of 1911.
These included an opera piece, Song of Eternal Lament, adapted by musician Zhou Ye, the Song of Fate, of Brahms, and Dvorak's Symphony No 9 (From the New World).
This was in fact the debut of the operatic Song of Eternal Lament, which was originally created in 1932, by Huang Zi, one of the most important Chinese composers of that time.
Huang was responding to the 'Sept 18 Incident' of 1931, when Japanese forces occupied northeastern China in the first stage of their invasion of China. He used the opera to express both his anger over the war and love of the motherland, through a tale of the Tangminghuang emperor, of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).
Jimson Hoi Kin Wa, president of the Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra Assoc, described the reason behind the recent event, "We share a period of important history that's hardly known by youngsters these days. The music acts as a bridge to let them learn more about the history of that period.
"We're honored to be a part of this meaningful tour and were careful with our music selection, considering well-known songs and some Chinese operas to fit the celebration."
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Uygur sounds, Beijing flavor at late-summer music festival
He then ushered two beautiful Uygur girls on stage, who clapped and twirled their long pink and purple skirts, to the accompaniment of traditional Uygur instruments such as the hand drum, besides Askar's guitar.
"I have been here in Beijing for 21 years. Although my Mandarin is still poor, I love the city," says the rocker, who started making music in the 1980s.
Askar was performing at the Funhill Changyang Music Festival 2011, held at the Riverfront Park, Changyang Town of Fangshan district, from Aug 26 to 28 - his first outdoor festival gig in a while.
Askar says he was drawn to the festival's variety of genres - pop and rock to jazz and electronic music.
A total of 38 singers and groups shared two stages for the three-day event. Veteran singers from Taiwan, including Julie Su and Chief Chao, made a rare appearance, much to the delight of the audience.
Alternative rock band, Your Favorite Enemies, and Japan punk group, Smash Up, were among the international lineups.
The festival took a bold move of introducing jazz, and organizers say it was aimed at breaking the stranglehold of rock music on outdoor music festivals.
Local rock hero Wang Feng closed the event with his trademark coarse voice and nearly 10 of his rock hits.
Despite rains, the first day of the festival pulled in an enthusiastic crowd of more than 20,000, who stayed till the very end.
The theme of this year's music festival was Beijing Fan'er, or the flavor of Beijing. Several photo exhibitions at the venue were focused on local Beijing culture, and many stalls selling typical Beijing snacks were set up.
"I have been here in Beijing for 21 years. Although my Mandarin is still poor, I love the city," says the rocker, who started making music in the 1980s.
Askar was performing at the Funhill Changyang Music Festival 2011, held at the Riverfront Park, Changyang Town of Fangshan district, from Aug 26 to 28 - his first outdoor festival gig in a while.
Askar says he was drawn to the festival's variety of genres - pop and rock to jazz and electronic music.
A total of 38 singers and groups shared two stages for the three-day event. Veteran singers from Taiwan, including Julie Su and Chief Chao, made a rare appearance, much to the delight of the audience.
Alternative rock band, Your Favorite Enemies, and Japan punk group, Smash Up, were among the international lineups.
The festival took a bold move of introducing jazz, and organizers say it was aimed at breaking the stranglehold of rock music on outdoor music festivals.
Local rock hero Wang Feng closed the event with his trademark coarse voice and nearly 10 of his rock hits.
Despite rains, the first day of the festival pulled in an enthusiastic crowd of more than 20,000, who stayed till the very end.
The theme of this year's music festival was Beijing Fan'er, or the flavor of Beijing. Several photo exhibitions at the venue were focused on local Beijing culture, and many stalls selling typical Beijing snacks were set up.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
'Chicago' is Broadway's 4th longest-running show
NEW YORK — The threat of Hurricane Irene didn't stop the cast and crew of the musical "Chicago" from celebrating a Broadway milestone Friday night with cake and a very big knife.
At a small backstage party at intermission, the show marked its 6,137th performance — tying "A Chorus Line" for the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history.
A loud cheer went up when Christopher Sieber, who stars as Billy Flynn, toasted the cast with non-alcoholic sparkling wine in the wardrobe room at the Ambassador Theatre.
Bebe Neuwirth, who played Velma Kelly back when the revival began its near-15-year streak, then plunged a large knife into a vanilla sheet cake decorated with a classic "Chicago" image of a sexy murderess.
"Nice, Bebe, nice!" roared a member of the ensemble. Then Neuwirth, Sieber, Charlotte d'Amboise (a veteran Roxie Hart) and Nikka Graff Lanzarone, the current Velma, cut slices of the cake and passed them around on blood red plates with red plastic forks.
The next performance of the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical will give it sole possession of the fourth-place spot. Because of Irene, that performance has been pushed back to Monday night.
At a small backstage party at intermission, the show marked its 6,137th performance — tying "A Chorus Line" for the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history.
A loud cheer went up when Christopher Sieber, who stars as Billy Flynn, toasted the cast with non-alcoholic sparkling wine in the wardrobe room at the Ambassador Theatre.
Bebe Neuwirth, who played Velma Kelly back when the revival began its near-15-year streak, then plunged a large knife into a vanilla sheet cake decorated with a classic "Chicago" image of a sexy murderess.
"Nice, Bebe, nice!" roared a member of the ensemble. Then Neuwirth, Sieber, Charlotte d'Amboise (a veteran Roxie Hart) and Nikka Graff Lanzarone, the current Velma, cut slices of the cake and passed them around on blood red plates with red plastic forks.
The next performance of the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical will give it sole possession of the fourth-place spot. Because of Irene, that performance has been pushed back to Monday night.
Jay-Z goes back to his roots at Brooklyn stadium launch
Rap superstar Jay-Z returned to his home borough for a sold-out concert on Friday night to open Brooklyn's new basketball stadium.
The rapper who grew up just two miles away from the new Barclays Center arena - now the home court of the Brooklyn Nets basketball team - talked about how far he had come in a show sprinkled with emotional speeches.
"I've been on many stages all around the world and nothing feels like tonight," Jay-Z told the cheering audience.
"I'm really overwhelmed by the moment," he said as he described his humble beginnings in Marcy Houses, a Brooklyn public housing project he noted was just 15 minutes away from the arena. "I can't believe that this day has come."
Jay-Z, who raps about the time he spent as a drug dealer, released his first album in 1996. He is now one of the most successful rappers in the world, owns a minority stake in the Nets and has businesses including a clothing label.
He encouraged members of the packed crowd to have their own stab at success.
"I believe everybody in the world is born with genius level talent ... Apply yourself to whatever you're genius at and you can do anything in the world," he said.
It was the first of eight Jay-Z concerts planned for the venue in the arena's first week.
Jay-Z sported the team's jersey and hat as he sang recent hits like Empire State of Mind and returned to his highly acclaimed debut album Reasonable Doubt.
The rapper who grew up just two miles away from the new Barclays Center arena - now the home court of the Brooklyn Nets basketball team - talked about how far he had come in a show sprinkled with emotional speeches.
"I've been on many stages all around the world and nothing feels like tonight," Jay-Z told the cheering audience.
"I'm really overwhelmed by the moment," he said as he described his humble beginnings in Marcy Houses, a Brooklyn public housing project he noted was just 15 minutes away from the arena. "I can't believe that this day has come."
Jay-Z, who raps about the time he spent as a drug dealer, released his first album in 1996. He is now one of the most successful rappers in the world, owns a minority stake in the Nets and has businesses including a clothing label.
He encouraged members of the packed crowd to have their own stab at success.
"I believe everybody in the world is born with genius level talent ... Apply yourself to whatever you're genius at and you can do anything in the world," he said.
It was the first of eight Jay-Z concerts planned for the venue in the arena's first week.
Jay-Z sported the team's jersey and hat as he sang recent hits like Empire State of Mind and returned to his highly acclaimed debut album Reasonable Doubt.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood to host CMA Awards
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will co-host the 45th annual Country Music Association Awards on November 9, sharing the duty for the fourth time, they said on Monday.
The two made the announcement via Facebook from the set of their new video, "Remind Me."
The CMA Awards, which annually are among the highest honors for country singers, will be handed out at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and will be broadcast live by ABC.
"We wanted to take a minute to share some very exciting news," Underwood said in the announcement that was available on YouTube. "The CMA has asked Brad and me back to host the CMA Awards in November."
Paisley had also tweeted earlier that he and Underwood were shooting the video, and photos from both that tweet and the CMA announcement showed them on an undisclosed beach.
"Can you believe that?" asked Paisley, who won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award last year. "I can't wait to do it again."
CMA chief executive Steve Moore said both Underwood and Paisley "have the unique qualities of humor, talent, credibility and natural rapport that makes them a hit with fans and the industry audience."
The awards show honors country music's biggest stars from the previous year, with some of the genre's best-known singers handing out 12 awards including Entertainer of the Year, Male and Female Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year.
The two made the announcement via Facebook from the set of their new video, "Remind Me."
The CMA Awards, which annually are among the highest honors for country singers, will be handed out at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and will be broadcast live by ABC.
"We wanted to take a minute to share some very exciting news," Underwood said in the announcement that was available on YouTube. "The CMA has asked Brad and me back to host the CMA Awards in November."
Paisley had also tweeted earlier that he and Underwood were shooting the video, and photos from both that tweet and the CMA announcement showed them on an undisclosed beach.
"Can you believe that?" asked Paisley, who won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award last year. "I can't wait to do it again."
CMA chief executive Steve Moore said both Underwood and Paisley "have the unique qualities of humor, talent, credibility and natural rapport that makes them a hit with fans and the industry audience."
The awards show honors country music's biggest stars from the previous year, with some of the genre's best-known singers handing out 12 awards including Entertainer of the Year, Male and Female Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year.
NBC renews 'The Voice' for more seasons
NBC said on Tuesday it had ordered two more seasons of its hit TV singing contest "The Voice" for the spring and fall of 2013.
"This pickup will assure the many dedicated ‘Voice' fans that this innovative show will continue to bring some of the most talented new voices to the world's attention through all of next year," NBC entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement.
"The Voice", which debuted as a spring show in 2011, moved to a twice a year cycle earlier this month, where it is watched by more than 12 million Americans and has drawn bigger audiences than Fox television's revamped "The X Factor".
NBC, which is majority-owned by Comcast, announced last week that singers Shakira and Usher will take the places of celebrity judges Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera when the show returns in the spring of 2013.
"The Voice" has proved one of the brightest lights in NBC's struggling programming schedule as the network seeks to lift itself out of its bottom place among the four leading U.S. free to air broadcasters.
As the 2012-13 TV season officially kicked off on Monday with new and returning shows on all networks, "The Voice" was the top show of the night among the 18-49 demographic most prized by advertisers, according to Nielsen data.
"This pickup will assure the many dedicated ‘Voice' fans that this innovative show will continue to bring some of the most talented new voices to the world's attention through all of next year," NBC entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said in a statement.
"The Voice", which debuted as a spring show in 2011, moved to a twice a year cycle earlier this month, where it is watched by more than 12 million Americans and has drawn bigger audiences than Fox television's revamped "The X Factor".
NBC, which is majority-owned by Comcast, announced last week that singers Shakira and Usher will take the places of celebrity judges Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera when the show returns in the spring of 2013.
"The Voice" has proved one of the brightest lights in NBC's struggling programming schedule as the network seeks to lift itself out of its bottom place among the four leading U.S. free to air broadcasters.
As the 2012-13 TV season officially kicked off on Monday with new and returning shows on all networks, "The Voice" was the top show of the night among the 18-49 demographic most prized by advertisers, according to Nielsen data.
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