THE Shanghai Spring International Music Festival will lift its curtains again, offering local residents the chance to enjoy a wide program of performances.

The festival, which has a history stretching back more than 40 years, will run from April 28 to May 18. So far, the schedule includes over 60 shows and events.

“Encouraging new works and providing a stage for new talents has always been a core principle of Shanghai Spring,” says Song Yan, deputy director of the festival’s organizing committee.

Young Chinese artists will once again feature prominently in the festival this year, opening with a joint performance from up-and-comers like violinist Wang Zhijiong, pianist Sun Yingdi, guzheng player Luo Xiaoci and the group Trio Prisma.

The symphonic poem “Railway Guerrilla,” composed by Lu Qiming in 1964, and the recently completed piano concerto “Chinese Dream” will also be presented at the concert.

Another 12 concerts will showcase original works and young musicians selected by festival judges from hundreds of applicants.

A new program named “Paying Tribute to the Masters” will commemorate erhu virtuoso Min Huifen, composer Xian Xinghai and conductor Huang Yijun. These concerts will be presented by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, the Shanghai SMG Choir, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra respectively.

Encouraging oversea artists to perform Chinese works has always been a principle of the music event, according to Liao Changyong, vice president of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, a major program organizer for the festival.

“It will be a good chance for oversea artists to get to know good Chinese works and then possibly bring them to the world,” Liao says.

About 10 shows this year will be presented by international performers and groups, including the Lahti Symphony Orchestra from Finland, the Bamberger Symphony Orchestra from Germany and mezzo-soprano Joyce Didonato from the United States.

The Bamberg Symphony Orchestra will present composer Yang Liqing’s “Mukamu Impression” at the closing ceremony of the festival on May 18. ARS NOVA Copenhagen will perform Yin Mingwu’s “Jasmine Flower” and Wen Deqing’s “I Listen” during the concerts on May 8-9, while Austria’s Ensemble Zeitfluss will stage a series of Chinese ensemble works from He Xuntian, Ye Guohui, Wen Deqing, Zhu Shirui and Chen Musheng on May 4 and 6.

“I have heard numerous comments about the quickly expanding Chinese market for classical music ... And we have seen countless world-class artists visiting the country in recent years. However, we have to admit that it still takes time for Chinese music to keep up with the expanding market,” says Chinese pianist Li Jian, who will give a recital on May 15.

About 5,000 discounted tickets priced as low as 30 yuan (US$4.84) will be available to concert-goers.

 

For performance details and schedules, visit www.ssimf.org.