CAL PERFORMANCES PRESENTS PROGRAM NOTES

Sunday, November 22, 2009, 3pm Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881) Mussorgsky wrote the ’s prelude in Zellerbach Hall Prelude to Khovanshchina (“Dawn on the September 1874. Subtitled “Dawn on the Moscow Moscow River”) (1874) River,” it paints a gentle landscape of the city awakening. Various themes introduce themselves Of the five Russian composers known as “The in turn—rising and falling arpeggios, lyrical lines, Mighty Handful,” Mussorgsky was the most sen- staccato chattering—like characters assuming Symphony sational. He did not have the wide influence of his their positions. The modal harmonies contribute to Long Yu, teacher, Balakirev, or the urbane polish of Rimsky- the antique feeling of the music, evoking the 17th- music director & conductor Korsakov, but his innate melodic touch and mus- century setting. Mussorgsky’s brief prelude has with cular approach to harmony generated some of the become a concert staple for , and both most memorable and definitively Russian music the familiar Rimsky-Korsakov realization and the Yuja Wang, piano ever written. The little success he did achieve in starker Shostakovich score convey the timeless his life could not pull him out of poverty and al- promise of the sun rising on a new day. coholism, and he died with his musical library in disarray. Rimsky-Korsakov did much to preserve PROGRAM his friend’s reputation by editing and completing Serge Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) numerous works, yet his painstaking “corrections” Piano No. 2 in C minor, often censored the rough-hewn charm of the mu- Op. 18 (1901) Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881) Prelude to Khovanshchina (“Dawn on the sic. The enigma of Mussorgsky is that we almost al- Moscow River”) (1874) ways hear him through the prism of another com- When Rachmaninoff wrote his first symphony poser; the results may not be the most pure, but few in 1895, he was an established piano virtuoso Serge Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 (1901) will complain about such gems as Rimsky’s edition but barely recognized as a serious composer. His of Night on Bald Mountain or Ravel’s orchestration Symphony No. 1 might have cemented his reputa- Moderato of Pictures at an Exhibition. tion, except that its 1897 premiere was an utter di- Adagio sostenuto Mussorgsky’s greatest success in his lifetime was saster. Rachmaninoff suffered a crisis in confidence, Allegro scherzando the opera Boris Godunov, a saga of Russian history and found himself unable to compose anything Yuja Wang, piano and politics based on the drama of the same name significant for years. One friend sought to cheer by Pushkin. At the suggestion of a friend and mu- him up by arranging a meeting with Leo Tolstoy, sic critic, Vladimir Stasov, Mussorgsky borrowed but contact with the eminent novelist did nothing INTERMISSION another historical episode for his next opera, this to unstick Rachmaninoff’s writer’s block. A more time the Moscow uprising of 1682 and the ascent productive dialogue took place with Nikolai Dahl, of Peter the Great. Mussorgsky wrote the libretto to a psychiatric doctor and noted hypnotist as well Qigang Chen (b. 1951) Iris dévoilée (2001) Khovanshchina himself, fashioning a story around as an amateur musician. Rachmaninoff attended the title character of Prince Ivan Khovansky. The daily sessions with the doctor early in 1900, and by Xiaoduo Chen, soprano opera was historical fiction, but the resonance of a that summer he found the energy to compose an- Meng Meng, soprano modernizing force rising against the old order sat other major work. He started sketching his second Nan Wang, erhu not far beneath the surface in those waning years piano concerto in Italy, and by December he had Jia Li, of the Tsars. Mussorgsky worked fitfully on the the second and third movements ready for a trial Xin Sun, guzheng opera from 1872 to 1880, completing all but two performance. He added the first movement the numbers in piano score before his death. Rimsky- next year, and appeared as the soloist for the first Korsakov made the first attempt to complete and full performance in October 1901. Rachmaninoff orchestrate the opera, allowing for a public debut dedicated the piece to Dr. Dahl, a lasting trib- in 1886 in St. Petersburg. Stravinsky and Ravel re- ute to the man who helped restart a legendary worked excerpts for a Diaghilev production, and composing career. This performance is made possible, in part, by Patron Sponsor Kathleen G. Henschel. Shostakovich prepared an entirely new edition in Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 is a pe- 1958, adhering more closely to Mussorgsky’s un- rennial audience favorite. Unlike the glitzy third Cal Performances’ 2009–2010 season is sponsored by Wells Fargo. finished score. concerto that followed in 1909, the second concerto

10 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 11 PROGRAM NOTES TEXTS places the pianist in a delicate and understated role Qigang Chen (b. 1951) Qigang Chen within the orchestra—what Rachmaninoff de- Iris dévoilée (2001) Iris dévoilée (“Iris Unveiled”) scribed as “a symphony with a strain of piano solo.” The first movement, composed last, captures the Iris dévoilée, the most recent work by Qigang 1. Ingenious essence of the piece. It begins with a simple prelude Chen, was premiered on February 6, 2002, in of chords and pedal tones from the piano, migrat- Paris with great success. Iris dévoilée is a con- 2. Chaste ing from F minor to the work’s home key of C mi- certo for full orchestra, soprano and traditional nor. The orchestra immediately takes the melody, Chinese instruments. Ai ya ya (admiring). He is such a handsome man. I tell him my admiration for him, “How handsome you with saturated piano arpeggios filling the texture. “Iris” is the name of the Greek goddess of the are, young man…” As is so often true in Rachmaninoff’s music, the rainbow. Chen uses the rich colors of a rainbow Ai ya ya (surprised), don’t do that, don’t do that… most memorable tune enters as the lyrical second to depict female volatility and charm. In the con- theme, this time entrusted to the pianist. certo, the multifaceted female disposition breaks I would like to confide in you, and at the same time Rachmaninoff’s special affinity for lush, ro- down into nine basic elements—simplicity, coy- I fear that my love might be disappointed… mantic music can be felt throughout the slow ness, wantonness, sentimentality, jealousy, mel- Love, I feel it. Fear, I feel it too. movement, the music that first broke his dry spell. ancholy, hysteria and lust—after which the nine Once again there is an introduction, this time parts of the concerto are entitled. Reflecting on 3. Libertine commencing in C minor (the previous movement’s the short-lived beauty of woman, Chen sings her How fantastic it is to fly away! Hai… final chord) and progressing to E major. The piano praises and at the same time feels helpless or even enters with the movement’s characteristic undulat- despairs. When recalling the composition of the 4. Sensitive ing rhythm, music that has its roots in a Romance concerto, Chen confided that he had never realized composed in 1890 for three daughters in a family how inexhaustible a subject the nature of woman 5. Tender of distant relatives. Playing triplets grouped into could be to the artist. sets of four, the piano seems to float in its own In recent years, Chen has often incorporated 6. Jealous tempo while the orchestra elaborates a haunting Chinese traditional music into his works. In Iris theme, first led by the flute. dévoilée, we hear pipa, erhu and guzheng, and the 7. Melancholic The finale breaks the spell of the Adagio with vocal part of the concerto is a combination of a playful orchestral lead-in and piano cadenza, Western bel canto and Peking opera techniques. Life is so difficult… again starting with the final chord of the preced- The vocal parts of Iris dévoilée will be sung by What should I do? ing movement and modulating to the movement’s Xiaoduo Chen (soprano) and Meng Meng (Peking Hu…Wei… intended key. A brief flirtation with C major fore- opera singer), and traditional Chinese instruments Life is so difficult… shadows the triumphant conclusion, but first the played by Nan Wang (erhu), Jia Li (pipa) and Xin Hai…It is, it is, it is, it is…difficult… pianist and orchestra issue a C minor theme with Sun (guzheng), all under the direction of Maestro Life is so difficult… a tinge of mock-military pomp. Another unfor- Long Yu. gettable melody enters as the secondary theme; 8. Hysterical some scholars have argued that an old classmate HA! (crazy)… of Rachmaninoff’s gifted him the tune, but others © 2009 Aaron Grad believe it to be so idiomatic of Rachmaninoff’s me- I am not your wife… lodic style that it must be original material. Either (Madness) I am not your wife! way, the treatment of the theme is quintessential (Very coldly) Here you are, petrified… Rachmaninoff, especially when it returns to close HA! HA! HA! HA! the work in a majestic climax, music that helped I am not even your spouse! the famous pianist finally achieve his rightful rec- ognition as a composer. 9. Voluptuous My lord… Ya…I want… Ya… My lord…

12 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 13 ORCHESTRA ROSTER ABOUT THE ARTISTS

SHANGHAI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is the ear- As one of the most distin- liest and the best-known ensemble of its kind in guished Chinese conduc- Asia, through which Chinese symphonic music tors with an established Guangxian Chen, President Long Yu, Music Director has developed. Formed in 1879 as the Shanghai international reputation, Public Band, it developed into an orchestra in 1907 Maestro Long Yu is cur- Violin I Cello Horn and was renamed the Shanghai Municipal Council rently Artistic Director Yinlin Pan, Concertmaster Beixing Huang Yelin Xie Symphony Orchestra in 1922. Notably under the and Principal Conductor Pei Li, Concertmaster Lin Zhu Terence Tan baton of Italian conductor Mario Paci, the orches- of the Philharmonic Ying Piao, Associate Concertmaster Shaojun Chen Zhongbao Guo tra promoted Western music and trained young Orchestra, Music Director of Songjie Zhang Feng Yan Jieliang Shi Chinese talents in this style. It introduced the first the Guangzhou Symphony Na Huang Yunyan Huang Xiaoming Han Chinese orchestral work to Asian audiences and has Orchestra, Music Director of the Shanghai Ting Su Xihui Chen Lei Liu Yue Zhang Trumpet been reputed as the “the best in the Far East.” In Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Yi Pan Kang Xia Sergey Tyuteykin practical terms, the history of Shanghai Symphony Music Festival. Xilun Zhang Jinhu Lu Fei Xia Orchestra may also be considered the history of the Besides his concerts throughout the year with Wei Liang Shujie Wang Zhiyi Wang development of symphonic music in China. the China Philharmonic and the Guangzhou Yu Xiong The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is now en- Symphony, Maestro Yu has appeared with a pres- Lejun Miao Double Bass Trombone tering a new era of its history, which spans three tigious list of leading orchestras and opera com- Zhenyu Shi Ling Tian Jie Hao centuries. It has held over ten thousand concerts— panies around the world, including the Chicago Wei Wang Shunhua Zhu Shuang Liu giving premiere performances of several thousand Symphony, Orchestra, Los Angeles Ke Zhou Ming Zhang Qingwen Hu Xudong Qu musical works—and has collaborated with many Philharmonic, National Symphony, Orchestre Violin II Di Wang Tuba guest artists (conductors, soloists and vocalists) of de Paris, Bamberg Symphony, Hamburg State Xili Wang Kai Lin Alexander Filippov world renown, gaining a reputation as the most Opera, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Yi Chen Xiaorui Wang authoritative interpreter of Chinese symphonic Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Leipzig, Teatro Tao Zheng Jiandong Qi Timpani compositions, while promoting them with every La Fenice in Venice, Sydney Symphony, Hong Bingke Fang Xiong Zhou possible endeavor. It has become more and more Kong Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic and Yilu Huang Flute influential both at home and abroad, having most Singapore Symphony. Can Yang Zhe Hu Percussion recently completed the audio and video recordings Long Yu was born in 1964 into a family of Yun Wang Xiaoyun Gong Chung-Ling Lo Lei Huang Lin Liu Kai Gu of Zhu Jian’er’s symphonies, ’s multime- musicians in Shanghai. Musical education in his Nana Wang Qi Fang dia concerto The Map, and music for the Oscar- early childhood came from his grandfather, Ding Jingtao Wang Oboe Chunli Shi and Grammy award-winning filmCrouching Tiger, Shande, a composer of great renown, and he later Wenwei Yao Xin Zhang Hidden Dragon, among other projects. studied at the Shanghai Conservatory and the Duo Liu Xiaodi Liu Harp Since the 1970s, the orchestra has toured ex- Hochschule der Künste in Berlin. Jingyi Man Lei Chen tensively abroad. In 1990, the orchestra made its Maestro Yu’s career has included both artis- Viola debut at in New York; in 2003, tic and administrative appointments. In 1992, he Zhen Wei Clarinet Conductor in Residence & Piano it performed in 11 cities in the United States; in was appointed Principal Conductor of the Central Zhenli Shi Yaoguang Zhai Liang Zhang Jiayu Liu Yuru Wu 2004, it toured Europe to celebrate the Sino-French Opera Theatre in Beijing and, in the same year, Hong Piao Kun Chen Pipa Cultural Year. Its 125th Anniversary Celebration was involved in the planning of the first Beijing Linfang Ye Jia Li Concert given at the Berliner Philharmonie (the New Year’s Concert. He subsequently served as its Weiqi Guo Bassoon first Chinese symphony orchestra to play in the conductor for three years. He also produced Qi Meng Zhaolu Liu Guzheng storied hall) was hailed as a great success. Maestro for the Urban Council of Hong Kong for five con- Xiang Li Yu Hu Xin Sun Long Yu is currently Music Director of the secutive years. Qi Zhang Lu Wen Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. In 1998, he led the creation of the Beijing Music Yang Guo Erhu Tour direction for the Shanghai Symphony Festival and was its Founding Artistic Director. Nan Wang Orchestra is provided by R. Douglas Sheldon, Under his leadership, the Beijing Music Festival Soprano Columbia Artists Management LLC, 1790 has come to be regarded as one of the world’s most Xiaoduo Chen Broadway, New York, New York 10019. important music festivals. Along with numerous Meng Meng

14 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 15 ABOUT THE ARTISTS ABOUT THE ARTISTS performances by world-renowned ensembles and Twenty-two-year-old Chinese pianist Yuja Wang given recitals in major cities throughout North In summer 2010, Ms. Wang will return to the artists, the Beijing Music Festival plays an active is widely recognized for playing that combines America and abroad, is a dedicated performer of Santa Fe and Verbier festivals. role in commissioning new works from today’s the spontaneity and fear- chamber music, and makes regular appearances Ms. Wang is an exclusive recording artist for most prestigious composers, including Krzysztof less imagination of youth at festivals, including Aspen, Santa Fe Chamber . For her debut recording, Penderecki, , Guo Wenjing and with the discipline and Music, Gilmore, Schleswig-Holstein and Verbier. Sonatas & Etudes, released in spring 2009, she per- Ye Xiaogang. precision of a mature art- She has worked with many of the world’s es- formed Chopin’s “Funeral March” Sonata, Liszt’s In 2000, Long Yu co-founded the China ist. Regularly lauded for teemed conductors, including , Sonata in B minor, Scriabin’s Sonata No. 2 and Philharmonic Orchestra and was appointed her controlled, prodigious , Robert Spano, Michael Stern, Études by Ligeti. its Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. technique, Ms. Wang’s , Michael Tilson-Thomas, Osmo Born in Beijing in 1987, Ms. Wang began Now entering his ninth season with the China command of the piano Vänskä and . studying piano at age six, with her earliest public Philharmonic, he has maintained a high standard has been described as “as- As a young emerging pianist, each season performances taking place in China, Australia of orchestral performance and artistic administra- tounding” and “superhu- Ms. Wang makes a number of important debuts, and Germany, and went on to study at the Central tion. In 2005, Maestro Yu conducted the China man,” and she has been both with major orchestras and in recital. This Conservatory of Music in Beijing under Ling Yuan Philharmonic on a 40-day, 22-city international praised for her author- fall, she made her Carnegie Hall orchestral de- and Zhou Guangren. Following three years, from

tour of North America and Europe. In 2008, for the Christian Steiner ity over the most complex but performing with The Philadelphia Orchestra 1999 to 2001, at the Morningside Music summer first time in history, the China Philharmonic per- technical demands of the repertoire, the depth of led by Charles Dutoit, and she will perform program at ’s Mount Royal College, an formed at the Vatican in the Paul VI Auditorium, her musical insight, as well as her fresh interpreta- the world premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s Piano artistic and cultural exchange program between under the baton of Maestro Yu. The concert was tions and graceful, charismatic stage presence. Concerto with the National Symphony under Canada and China, Ms. Wang moved to Canada attended by The Holy Father Pope Benedict XIV In the few short years since her 2005 de- Andrew Litton in Washington DC. Over the span and began studying with Hung Kuan Chen and and marked a giant step in bringing Eastern and but with the National Arts Center Orchestra led of her 2009–2010 season, Ms. Wang will make Tema Blackstone at the Mount Royal College Western cultures closer together. by Pinchas Zukerman, for which the Canadian her debuts with the Charlotte, North Carolina, Conservatory. In 2002, when Ms. Wang was 15, His other appointments include Music Director press reported that “a star is born,” Ms. Wang Portland and Montreal symphonies in North she won the Aspen Music Festival’s concerto com- of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra (2003) has already performed with many of the world’s America, and abroad with the Israel Philharmonic, petition and moved to the United States to study and Music Director of the Shanghai Symphony prestigious orchestras, including the Baltimore Frankfurter Museumsorchester, Filarmonica della with at the Curtis Institute of Orchestra (2009). Symphony, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Scala, Gulbenkian Orchestra and Monte Carlo Music in Philadelphia, from which she graduated Maestro Yu’s recordings include, on Deutsche Dallas Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Houston Philharmonic. She will make recital debuts at in 2008. In 2006, Ms. Wang received the Gilmore Grammophon with the China Philharmonic, Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, National the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, the Hong Young Artist Award. Brahms’s Piano Quartet in G minor (orch. Arnold Symphony, New World Symphony, Philadelphia Kong City Hall Theater and the Mozarteum Management for Yuja Wang is provided by Schoenberg) and Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture, Orchestra, Pittsburgh Orchestra and San Francisco in Salzburg. Opus 3 Artists, 470 Park Avenue South, 9th Floor highlights of Chinese symphonic music and Yellow Symphony in the United States, and abroad with Additional highlights of Ms. Wang’s 2009– North, New York, New York 10016. River Concerto with . His recordings on the Tonhalle Orchestra, China Philharmonic, 2010 season include the 11-city U.S. tour with the Naxos include Korngold’s Violin Concerto and London Philharmonic, Nagoya Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony led by Long Yu in honor of Acclaimed soprano Xiaoduo Chen, an active Ding Shande’s Long March Symphony. NHK Symphony in Tokyo and , the orchestra’s 130th anniversary and seven perfor- performer in China and around the world, was a Long Yu received the 2002 Montblanc Arts among others. In 2006, Ms. Wang made her New mances with the Russian National Orchestra con- prize-winner at Beijing’s 2004 National Singing Patronage Award from the Montblanc Cultural York Philharmonic debut at the Bravo! Vail Music ducted by during the orchestra’s Competition and Belgium’s Queen Elizabeth Foundation, and in 2003 was honored with Le Festival and performed with the orchestra the 20th anniversary U.S. tour. She will also perform Competition. Ms. Chen won the 2001 Vera Rosa grade de chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des following season under during the with The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Indianapolis Award for most promising singer in Belgium and Lettres (the rank of Chevalier of French art and Philharmonic’s visit to Japan and Korea. That same Symphony, and the San Francisco and New World the 2002 Best New Singer award in Taiwan. She culture) from the government of France. In 2005, season, she performed in the United Kingdom and symphonies under . has performed with the China Philharmonic, the Italian President honored Maestro Long Yu toured the Netherlands with the St. Petersburg Ms. Wang will perform with the Beijing Symphony and Shanghai Symphony, and with L’onorificenza di commendatore. Philharmonic led by Yuri Temirkanov. In 2008, Orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado in Beijing, at the Central Opera House of China. In 2004, Personal direction for Long Yu is provided by Ms. Wang toured the United States with the the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Spain and in she was asked to serve as a cultural ambassador Jean-Jacques Cesbron and Anastasia Boudanoque, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields led by London, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. She by China’s Ministry of Culture. She studied at Columbia Artists Music LLC, 1790 Broadway, Sir , and in 2009 she performed will give recitals in San Francisco, Vancouver, the China Conservatory of Music and the Royal New York, New York 10019. as a soloist with the YouTube Symphony led by Detroit, Washington DC, Zurich, Paris, Madrid, Academy of Music. Michael Tilson Thomas at Carnegie Hall. She has Lisbon and Venice, among other cities worldwide.

16 CAL PERFORMANCES CAL PERFORMANCES 17 ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Touring across the United States and Canada, Jia Li began playing the pipa at age six and stud- Ms. Chen received critical acclaim as the lead role ied at the Shanghai Conservatory and the China in the musical Terracotta Warriors. She performed Conservatory of Music. She has performed at the at the Gwangju Jungyoulsung International Music La voix du dragon and Presènces festivals in France, Festival in Korea and toured as a guest performer and in a concert series held throughout Asia com- with Italian singer Renzo Arbore. In 2006, she memorating the 50th anniversary of pipa master sang the lead role in the Chinese opera Ms. Du Shi Liu Dehai. Niang at the Central Opera House. Ms. Li was a featured soloist at the premiere of Iris dévoilée with the National Orchestra of France Soprano Meng Meng, currently a student at the and has performed the work around the world with China Conservatory of Music, was admitted at age the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra. 12 to the Shan Dong Opera School, where she won In 2005, Ms. Li joined the China Artists’ Group first prize in the New Talents Cup and second prize delegation to India led by Premier Wen Jiabao in the A Cappella Group Competition. and participated in the Art Exchange Program Ms. Meng has performed in many productions with performers from India and Bhutan. She has at the Qing Dao Theater and sang in the Chinese performed throughout Asia in Beijing, Shanghai, ballet Da Hong Deng Long Gao Gao Gua in 2003. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and participated She is a first–prize-winner of the China Opera in the Kennedy Center’s Chinese Cultural Festival Essay Competition. in 2005. Singing in Qigang Chen’s symphonic work Die Lian Hua with the Guangzhou Symphony Xin Sun began her guzheng studies at age six and Orchestra, Ms. Meng performed in Guangzhou, studied at the China Conservatory of Music. She Australia, France, Germany, Belgium and Egypt. won first prizes at the Beijing Youth Chinese Music Contest and the Chinese Instruments Contest, top Nan Wang began playing the erhu at age six and prizes at the Xing-Hai Cup Chinese Instruments studied at the Xi’an Conservatory of Music and Contest in Beijing, the Youth Division Prize at the China Conservatory of Music. Ms. Wang won the Long-Yin Cup International Guzheng Contest third prize at the Chinese Traditional Instrument and the Youth Division Third Prize at the ART National Contest, second prize at the National Erhu International Folk Instruments Contest. Contest and the Prize of Excellence in erhu perfor- While still in high school, Ms. Sun co- mance at the Taipei Traditional Arts Festival. founded Sheng Lan Qi Xin (“Orchids Seven”), the Ms. Wang has toured throughout Asia, Europe first chamber-music ensemble organized by stu- and the Middle East and has performed with the dents in China. She received critical acclaim for Central Tradition Orchestra of China, the China her performances at the Fifth Anniversary ROI Philharmonic Orchestra and the Central Ballet Productions Concert in Hong Kong, Chinese Orchestra. She has performed at the La voix du Central Television’s (CCTV) first anniversary of dragon festival in Paris and was a featured soloist the Return of Hong Kong to China Folk Music with the National Orchestra of France at the world Concert, and the BTV 1997 Spring Folk Music premiere of Iris dévoilée. Concert. Having toured in more than 20 countries around the world, Ms. Sun has performed at the Macau Festival with the Chinese Macau Orchestra and at the Opera de Lyon in France. Her albums include San Zhu Xie Yu (“Pearls Falling Down”), Zheng Zhi Xin Yun (“New Tunes of Guzheng”) and Hua Yu (“Whispers of Flowers”).

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