heralds new season for Concert Hall

Debra Li

AFTER a three-month winter break spent renovating equipment and facilities, the Shenzhen Concert Hall will reopen Sunday, promising better sound effects and a colorful repertoire in the new season.

In total, 27 shows will be presented in the coming three months catering to string lovers, piano zealots, symphony fans and operagoers. Of these, 13 will be free concerts and lectures that are part of the “Musical Sundays” campaign to promote classical music among the public; two have been specially arranged for children.

The new season will bring symphonies by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra led by Christoph Konig, with talented young musician Nicola Benedetti serving as chief violinist. Benedetti was named BBC’s Young Musician of the Year in 2004, and Konig, principal conductor of the Porto National Orchestra, is the most popular young conductor in Europe.

Other big names to hit the stage include Pinchas Zukerman, recognized as “one of the greatest contemporary violinists,” a group of 11 string artists originally from the renowned Vienna Philharmonic, and the Salzburg Organ Quintet.

Zukerman, also celebrated as a conductor, will lead the Macao Orchestra, apart from performing violin solos at a concert May 18.

The concert hall has also arranged for talented young Chinese musicians — many of whom have made it big in the West — to perform for local audiences. Violinists Huang Mengla, gold prizewinner of 2002 Paganini International Violin Competition, Chen Xi, youngest winner at the International Tchaikovsky Violin Competition, pianist Zhang Haochen and classical guitarist Yang Xuefei will give solo concerts.

Wei Song, tenor with the Shanghai Opera House and dubbed the “Chinese Pavarotti,” will perform too.

The free outdoor “Musical Sundays” will present symphonies staged by the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, a piano performance by music teacher Shi Shucheng, lectures by music reviewer Wang Yong, a solo by pipe organist Zhao Xiaoling and a piano concert by pupils of Dan Zhaoyi, a local piano teacher.

Apart from the concerts, citizens can visit the concert hall during a “community open day” event at 3 p.m. each Saturday during the spring show season.