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Presenter: Huajin Dance Drama Troupe of Shanxi Occupational Art Institute
Playwight / Choreographer / Director: Zhang Jigang
Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts-Opera House
Dates: March 10 – 12, 2009    19:30

Programme Introduction

Holding a connection with the drama Autumn Begins, the dance drama A Handful of Sour Dates showcases the strong will and sagacity of Shanxi merchants during the Ming and Qing Dynasty, praising their loyalty of love and honesty of the client. The storyline of the dance drama is based on the life experience of its choreographer and director Zhang Jigang, a native Shanxi people, who has devoted his unique understanding of both the culture of Shanxi merchants and the enchanting land. His choreography embodies a love tragedy with the scenes of red lanterns hanging in typical Shanxi big yards, sunset on ancient Silk Road as well as the colorful wild jujube woods.

Synopsis
A Handful of Sour Dates draws a vivid picture of a sorrowful love story with dance, music and stage art: during the early years of the Republic of China, Widow Jia has brought up her silly son, the young master Yin, who is the only child of the wealthiest family in Jinzhong, Shanxi. The seneschal of Family Jia manages to force the marriage between his bastard daughter Suanzao and the silly young master. However, true love has been burning between the laborious servant and Suanzao, who makes an oath to each other with a handful of sour dates. Their struggle against the fate stops when the seneschal puts poison into the love pouch of the poor lovers…

Huajin Dance Drama Troupe of Shanxi Occupational Art Institute
The Huajin Dance Drama Troupe of Shanxi Occupational Art Institute (SOAI) was established under the strategy of Shanxi Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government to build a “strong cultural province” and SOAI’s orientation towards combining the occupational art education institution with performance entities. Famous dance director Mr. Zhang Jigang is the lifelong artistic director of the Troupe. Since its establishment, the Troupe has participated in the 2008 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, the 10th Awarding Ceremony of Five Excellent Works for Cultural and Ethical Progress and China Federation of Literary and Art Circles 2008 CCTV Spring Festival Evening Party. Besides, it has designed and organized such large shows as the Shanxi TV Spring Festival Evening Party, the opening ceremony of Pingyao International Photography Festival (for four years in a row) and “The Same Song” in Shanxi, and has received wide applause.

(Source: ebeijing.gov.cn)

A Romantic Trip to Germany and Austria — Concert by China National Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Marco Parisotto
Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts-Concert Hall
Dates: March 15, 2009    19:30
Price:  VIP    480    380    280    180    80 RMB

Programme Introduction

China National Symphony Orchestra
China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) is one of the most outstanding professional symphony orchestras in China. Originally founded as the Central Philharmonic Orchestra of China in 1956, the orchestra was restructured and renamed in 1996. Leading the CNSO into the future are Director Guan Xia (Composer), Laureate Conductor Muhai Tang, Principal Resident Conductor Li Xincao, and Principal Guest Conductor En Shao.

For almost half a century, the CNSO has introduced Chinese audiences to a vast repertoire of classical, romantic, modern and contemporary orchestral works by both Western and Asian composers.

Throughout its history, the CNSO has collaborated with many world famous artists in order to bring excellence to its audiences. CNSO audiences have been thrilled by famous conductors such as Ormandy, Herbert von Karajan, Seiji Ozawa, Charles Dutoit, Kurt Masur, Slatkin, Rozhestvendsky, Schwarz and Peress. Other well-known guest artists have included composer and conductor Krzystof Penderecki, instrumentalists David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Mutter, Martha Argerich, Yo-Yo Ma, Mischa Maisky, Shaham, Wang Jian, Lang Lang, Li Yundi, Lin Choliang and Lindemann.

The CNSO has toured throughout the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Australia, Mexico, Japan, DPR of Korea, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, giving successful performances to critical acclaim by the international press. In London, a music critic for The Times praised the CNSO as “a mature group with a vital sound”. American music critics noted that “the CNSO is an honorable member of the world music stage”. In Europe, critics headlined the orchestra as “a great orchestra appears among the Kings of Orchestral Music “.

Marco Parisotto
Born in Montreal, Marco Parisotto is one of Canada’s most acclaimed and visible conductors on the world stage today. A devoted and impassioned musician, he has appeared in major concert halls throughout North America, Europe and Asia, winning critical praise with numerous orchestras as the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra,  New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Quebec Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, Victoria Symphony, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra, Teatro Verdi Trieste,  Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Georges Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Göteborg Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Ville de Marseille, Orchestre National de Lille, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Orchestre Lamoureux at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Philharmonique de Liege, Orquesta Filarmónica de Chihuahua, Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra…

In his eleven-year tenure as Music Director of the Oshawa Durham Symphony Orchestra (ODSO), he has built the ODSO into a formidable ensemble prized by its city and region. In 2000 he was appointed Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra making him the first foreign person to have held a director’s position in the history of the People’s Republic of China.

As somewhat of a record in the conducting world, Marco Parisotto is the winner of no fewer than seven major international competitions. He crowned these achievements in 1997 with the Besançon International Music Festival, joining the ranks of conductors like Seiji Ozawa, Michel Plasson, Zdenek Macal or Jesus Lopez Cobos. A first in this elite event’s history, he was awarded the Grand Prix as well as the Prix du Public. He gave the Shanghai premiere performances of Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances in 2002.

Programs
Mendelssohn
The Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Mendelssohn
Wedding March

— Intermission —

Bruckner
Symphony No.9

(Source: ebeijing.gov.cn)