Shanghai Conservatory SHANGHAI, CHINA Wednesday, July 9 7:30 p.m. Central Conservatory Concert Hall
Spuanava, for String Quartet Zhao Guang Intermission 1st movement 2nd movement Shanghai New Ensemble Theme and Variation Henryk Wieniawski He Xian, violin (1835-1880) Yuan Jiamin, violin Wang Zhijiong, violin Wei Zhen, viola Yin Yue, piano Chen Weiping, cello Dialogue I, for Cello and Zheng Qi Yao Polonaise from Onegin Tchaikovsky–Liszt Shanghai New Ensemble Ricordanza Franz Liszt Qi Yao, zheng Valse Oubliée No.1 Liszt Chen Weiping, cello Rakóczy March Liszt–Horowitz Yu (Jade), for Pipa and String Quartet Zhu Jian-er Wang Jue, piano Shanghai New Ensemble Qin Yi, pipa I Love you, China Music: Zheng Qiufeng He Xian, violin Lyrics: Qu Cong Yuan Jiamin, violin “Vissi d’arte, vissi Giacomo Puccini Wei Zhen, viola d’amore” from Tosca (1858-1924) Chen Weiping, cello
“The Jewel Song” Charles Gounod from Faust (1818-1893) Li Xiuying, soprano Wei Fugen, piano Shanghai Conservatory Yang Liqing, President
The Shanghai Conservatory of Music is a music institute Shanghai Conservatory of famous both at home and abroad. It grew out of the Music, New Ensemble, Shanghai National Conservatory of Music, which was String Quartet, Percussion established in a common effort by Mr. Cai Yuanpei and Ensemble, National Music Dr. Xiao Youmei (Shio Yiu-mei) on November 27, 1927. Orchestra and Choir. Our teachers and students have won numerous awards Shanghai Conservatory of both home and abroad, thus earning the conservatory the Music maintains close name, “the cradle of musicians.” relationships with many The oldest institute of music higher education in China, first-class conservatories the Shanghai Conservatory of Music consists of thirteen and famous musicians, departments. It involves six disciplines and twenty-three including collaborations sub-disciplines, some traditional, the others newly-devel- with schools in the USA, oped. The conservatory supports a high-level music France, UK, Russia, research institute, a specialized music library with a large Netherlands, Australia, collection, a first-class museum of oriental instruments, Austria, Germany and and a unique music publishing house. Japan. Many international- A six-year secondary school and a three-year elementary ly well-known musicians section were established separately in 1953 and 1956 to pre- such as Stern, Perlman, pare better candidates for tertiary education, thus forming Leon Fleisher, Zukerman, a self-contained system with a complete curriculum of Seiji Ozawa, Simon Rattle, music and academic education. Three art centers integrate Rostropovich, and Yo-Yo teaching, performing and scientific research: Zhou Xiaoyan Ma have served as hon- International Opera Center, International String Academy, orary or guest professors. and International Piano Art Center. The Conservatory has established six performing groups: Symphony Orchestra of Shanghai Conservatory Performer Biographies
Li Xiuying, Soprano, has studied with Professor Zhou Xiao Yan at Domingo, Tan Dun, Zhang Yimou, Tang Muhai, Huang Doudou, Xue Shanghai conservatory and completed her professional study at Wei, Qin Liwei, Jia Daqun, Qu Xiaosong, He Xuntian, Ye Guohui, Xu Mannes College of Music in USA. She won the Stanley Tausend Award Yi (France), Chen Xiaoyong (Germany), Zhang Shaotong, Sascha Lino from New York City Opera in 2007, second prize of the Fourth Lemke, and Huang Ruo. She has performed with the Shanghai Nation- Budapest International Voice Competition (Hungary, 1998), and the al Orchestra, Shanghai New Ensemble, Shanghai Youth Symphony 55th Gian Batista Viotti International Voice Competition (Italy, 2004). Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong National She has been highly appraised by many authoritative media, including Orchestra, Debussy String Quartet (France), Ensemble Modern (Ger- China News Service, Xin Hua News Agency, CCTV, Opera, World many), Nieuw Ensemble (Holland), and the Metropolitan Opera Sym- Daily, New York Times, Le Figaro, and others. phony Orchestra (US). Festival appearances include the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, Shanghai Contemporary Music Li has performed in New York City Opera, Portland Opera, Columbus Festival, Aspekte Festival in Salzburg Austria, Beijing Contemporary Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, and Hawaii Opera House. She has sung Music Festival, Hannover Contemporary Music Festival, Euro Youth works such as La Boheme, Turandot, Madama Butterfly, Tan Dun’s Classical Music Festival (Berlin), Electro-acoustic Music Festival dur- Tea, L’Elisir d’amore, La Traviata, and Le Nozze di Figaro; she ing Sino-French Years (Lyon), and World Music Day (Germany, host- returned to Columbus Opera to sing Mimi in La Boheme in September ed by ISCM). 2007 and to NYCO to perform Madama Butterfly in March 2008. She currently teaches at the Shanghai Conservatory. Qin Yi, pipa, obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Composition and Pipa (a Chinese traditional Qi Yao is a composer and performer for the Chinese zheng (zither). instrument) from the Shanghai Conservatory of She is currently a faculty member in the Department of Traditional Music in 2004. In 2006, she obtained her Master’s Instruments. As zheng soloist and composer, Qi Yao was hailed in Degree under Professor Chen Qiangbin and concert tours of Germany, USA, France, Italy, UK, Japan, Belgium, famous composer Qu Xiaosong. Now she is assis- Austria, Switzerland, Mexico, Ireland, Denmark and Hong Kong. Her tant professor in Department of Music Engineer- performances have been recorded by TV as Qi Yao’s Zheng Music ing of Shanghai Conservatory of Music. (Shanghai Oriental TV Music Channel) and Selected Chinese Music- Qi Yao’s Zheng Music (CCTV). Among her albums are Po-luo-sai-duo As a player and composer, Qin Yi has taken part (composed by He Xuntian), Selected Works (Dragon Sound), and Dia- in many international and national musical logue between Zheng and Soul (Taiwan Wind Records). Her publica- events, including Hong Kong Arts Festival, ISCM World Music Days, tions include “Zheng Teaching” (Music Weekly), Practical Course for International Gaudeamus Music Week, Europe Fifth International Zheng Performance (Shanghai Music Press, forthcoming), and An Workshop, Chinese Composers’ Festival, Aspekte Salzburg, Munchen- Introduction To Zheng Playing (Nanjing Xianheng Records). er Biennale, Les Musicades invitent la Chine, Shanghai International Festival of Arts, Shanghai International Music Festival Shanghai She has collaborated with artists and composers such as Placido eARTS festival, Shanghai International Electroacoustic Music Week, Beijing Modern International Music Festival, and the China Contem- Wang Zhijiong began to study the violin porary Music Forum. when she was 3 years old. In 1992, Wang entered the primary school attached to Her works have been performed in many European countries such as Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Her prin- Germany, Holland, Austria and Luxembourg, as well as Australia, Sin- cipal teacher is Professor Yu Lina. gapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In 1998, Wang won the first prize (junior Her works so far include Pange for choir (award First Prize in the 2006 division) in the Eighth International Yehudi Tsang-Houei Hsu International Music Composition Competition, Menuhin Violin Competition (France). The Vocal Category), Zhenru II for pipa solo (award Third Prize of Compo- same year, she won the first prize (senior division) and Chinese piece sition Competition in the 2004 Chinese Music Jin Zhong Award), performance prize in the Sixth China National Violin Competition in Mo·Wu for Double dance, Guqin, interactive videos and electronic 2000. She then won the third prize in the Eighth International Sibelius music, Yu·Tian cong he for voice, pipa and live electronics, Suo for Violin Competition (Finland). In 2003, she won the first prize and Piano solo, Stream for Zhonghu and Sanxian, Jing for female voice, three special prizes in the 22nd international violin competition pipa, di and percussion, Story Drum for pipa and two percussionists, (Rodolfo Lipizer Prize) held in Italy. In 2005, she earned second prize and Anapana for bass clarinet and pipa. in the First China International Violin Competition. She has per- Wang Jue is the prizewinner of many interna- formed with many symphony orchestras such as France National tional piano competitions. In the 2004 Second Radio Symphony Orchestra, North German Radio Symphony Orches- Leschetizky International Piano Competition in tra, and the Helsinki Philharmonic. Taiwan he won second prize, the Best Wei Fugen started his education in music at the age of nine when he Leschetizky Award and the Best Asian Pianist entered the Shanghai Conservatory. He performed Award. In 2005 attended the Sixth London his first piano solo at the Shanghai Spring Festival International Piano Competition and won the when he was twelve years old. His performing Educational Award. At Barcelona’s 51st “Maria experiences include the Budapest Festival (1982), Canals” International Piano Competition, he Prague Festival (1984), and vocal recitals in Vien- won First Prize, the Youngest Finalist Award na, Germany. He has performed in many cities and the Rolex Award. throughout the U.S., Canada, and China. Among He has been invited to many music festivals and master classes and his partners are singers from the Metropolitan received wide acclamation from great pianists such as Earl Wild, Lazar Opera, including Jianyi Zhang, Haojiang Tian, and Berman, Constance Keene, Fou T’song, Badura-skoda, Bashkirov, Boris Keith Purdy. Other performing highlights include Berman, and Jerome Rose. Furthermore, he has given numerous solo a recital with baritone Changyong Liao at Carnegie Hall in 2002 and a and concerto peformances in many cities throughout the world. Gala performance in Paris presented by the Chinese government. He Shanghai Conservatory Performer Biographies
was the official pianist for the 2005 Maestro Carlo Bergonzi Master International Modern Musical Class in Beijing. Festival, the Shanghai New Ensemble firstly showed itself Yin Yue is piano accompanist at the on the Asian Music Week Orchestral Department of Shanghai Con- 2000 in Yokohama, Japan. servatory. She won the Excellency Award The Shanghai New Ensemble for piano accompanist in the International was invited to participate in Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition held The ISCM 2002 Hong Kong in France, the Yampolsky International Festival in October 2002, the Violin Competition in Russia, the 20003 fifth Shanghai International Chinese Golden Bell Award Violin Compe- Arts Festival and the 2003 tition, and the 2006 Astana International Chengdu International Music Violin Competition in Kazakhstan. Festival. They have performed Shanghai New Ensemble in Salzburg, Austria; Ehingen, Germany; the Beijing Con- The Shanghai New Ensemble was founded in June 1999 by conductor temporary Music Festival; the MuSe Music Festival (Hanover, Ger- Tsung Yeh, Japanese composer Isao Matsusita, Chinese composer Zhu many); and the Winners’ Concert of Chinese Contemporary Chamber Jian-er, Prof. Yang Li-qing, Prof. Jia Da-qun, and Prof. He Xian. As a Music Work Competition in Beijing. The Ensemble is currently prepar- performing group attached to Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the ing for its first CD and first performance tour of Europe. Shanghai New Ensemble offers extensive international performances of musical and cultural intercommunion. He Xian has been a professor of violin performance at the Shanghai Conservatory since 1990. He is currently the Vice Dean of the The Artistic Consultant of the Shanghai New Ensemble is the famous string department and the director of Shanghai New Ensem- composer Zhu Jian-er. The Artistic Director is Yang Li-qing, composer, ble. As a soloist he has performed with Shanghai Symphony also President of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Composer Jia Orchestra, Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra, and Da-qun is the Executive Director, violinist He Xian is the Director of Shanghai Virtuosi. As both the founder and first violinist of the International String Academy, and Mr. Tsung Yeh is the chief con- the Chord Quartet, he has performed in the United States, ductor. The core of the Ensemble consists of a string quartet, one Austria, Germany, France, England, Switzerland, and Japan, piano, one flute, one clarinet and two percussionists, with the possibil- among many others. Professor He is the founding member of ity of several additional instruments, including Chinese traditional the Shanghai New Ensemble, a professional chamber orches- instruments. tra devoted to the contemporary music. He has led the As the first Chinese performing art group invited to participate in the ensemble in many highly-praised performances worldwide, including distinguished venues such as the Austria-Germany Contemporary Music Festival, the Asia Contemporary Music Festival Wei Zhen was born in October 1981 in Qing Dao, China. He started to in Japan, the International ISM Hongkong Contemporary Music Festi- learn violin at the age of three, then entered the Middle School of the val, and the Shanghai International Art Festival. Shanghai Conservatory of Music at the age of 12, studying with Profes- sors Fang Lei, Huang Chenxing, and Chen Xinzhi. He entered the Yuan Jia-min, born in Shanghai in 1976, started Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2001, majoring in viola under Profes- studying violin at the age of five. Her systemati- sor Shen Xidi. Currently he is in the second year of the Master program. cally professional training in violin in the Music Primary School, the Music Middle School affiliat- Wei is very active in many important festivals, such as the Pacific ed with Shanghai Conservatory and department Music Festival in Japan. In 2005, invited by conductor Valery Giegiev of winds and strings of SCM started from 1985 to as the principal viola of the International Youth Orchestra, he played 2001. Upon her graduation in 1998, she was in the concerts in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the victory of directly accepted as a post-graduate student of the Second World War in Moscow, Russia. In July, 2006, he performed the Shanghai Conservatory. In March of 1999, as with the China National Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra in the For- the second violin of the Chord Quartet, she was bidden City Concert Hall in Beijing. invited to University Mozarteum Salzburg for Chen Weiping earned his master’s degree from the Shanghai Conser- one semester. At present, she is working at the vatory of Music and is currently a faculty member of the Orchestral department of winds and strings of SCM as a lec- Department at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In 2000 he won turer of violin. the second prize in National Cello Competition. The same year he From 2000-2006, Ms. Yuan had extensive performing experience in played for the world famous cellist Rostropovich, who appraised him solo and chamber ensemble. In 2000 she made her debut playing the as “one of the most talented Chinese musicians.” He has given con- Beethoven violin concerto with Shanghai Opera Orchestra. The year certs all over the world and participated in many music festivals after, she was invited to play the Brahms double concerto with con- including Saito-Kinen International Music Festival in Japan (organized ductor Marco Parisotto and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. As a by Maestro Seiji Ozawa and Rostropovich), Oleg Kagan International member of the Shanghai New Ensemble, she has actively participated Music Festival in Germany, and Glazunov International Music Festival in the 2000 Asian Musical Festival Yokohama, ISCM 2002 Hong Kong in Moscow. He has worked with artists such as Maestro Seiji Ozawa, Festival, ASPEKTE Salzburg 2004, and Music Festival Seelze 2005 Han- cellist Natalia Gutman, and violist Yuri Bashmet. nover. She performed Sofia Gubaidulina’s “Offertorium” with the In 2002 as one of the best Chinese cellists, he was sent to Moscow State Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in 2005 Shanghai International Music Tchaikovsky Conservatory by Chinese Ministry of Culture to study with Festival. Natalia Gutman. His graduation concert was a great success.