Macao Chinese Orchestra
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
Thursday, October 10, 2002 20:00
Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium
180
Special guest: Pedro Jóia - Portuguese Guitar
Conductor: Yan Huichang
Programme:
Traditional Chinese Music
“Fantasy for Macao” for Portuguese Guitar and Chinese Orchestra, “Endless Love” - Songs from the 1940’s and 1950’s
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Yan Huichang |
Encounters brings together for the first time the Chinese Orchestras of Macao and Hong Kong, with the added innovation of Portuguese guitarist Pedro Jóia who will perform Kuan Nai Chung’s “Fantasy for Macao” commissioned by the Cultural Institute in 1991. The work takes its inspiration from two pieces for Portuguese guitar written by Carlos Paredes, and two Chinese folk songs, blending the traditions and melodies to produce a harmonious fusion reflecting Macao’s two most significant communities.
The Macao Chinese Orchestra was created by the Cultural Institute of Macao in 1987 and currently consists of 34 musicians. It performs regularly in Macao and also makes an annual foreign tour in a tradition that began in December 1988 with its first visit to Portugal. Since then it has performed several more times in Portugal, and also in Belgium, Bombay and Goa. Locally, the Orchestra has been involved in a variety of events including the Ceremony marking the Establishment of the Special Administrative Region of Macao. Its repertoire covers a range of musical genres from traditional Chinese melodies to contemporary Chinese compositions. It premiered “Hard Separation” by He Zhan Hao, in a performance conducted by the composer himself, and other premieres include “Impressions of Mount Tai Hang” by Liu Wen Jin, “Spring River” by Xu Jin Xin, “Fantasy Macao for Portuguese Guitar” by Kuan Nai Ching, and “Macau Rhapsody” by Simão Barreto.
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Orquestra Chinesa de Hong Kong |
The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra was founded in 1977 by the Urban Council of Hong Kong. Deeply rooted in the long-standing Chinese culture, its performance format and content highlight the retention of traditional and strong ethnic flavours. Its repertoire includes traditional folk music and modern full-scale orchestral works. The orchestra also extensively commissions different types and styles of new works. Overseas tours are also part of their activities as they have performed in Australia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, China, Macao, Taiwan, Canada and the U.S. They are also the first Chinese orchestra in the world to perform in the world famous Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
The orchestra is divided into four sections: bowed strings, plucked-strings, wind and percussion. The orchestra includes traditional and modernized Chinese instruments, as well as, suitable western instruments. Since 1977, the orchestra has expanded to 85 musicians.
Pedro Jóia graduated in Classical Guitar in 1990 from the National Conservatory in Lisbon, where he studied under Professor Manuel Morais. He went on to study flamenco guitar, studying with such masters as Manolo Sanlúcar in Cordoba and Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Pedro Jóia combines a busy performing schedule in Portugal and abroad with teaching classical guitar at the University of Évora. He has recorded “Variations on Carlos Paredes”, and other CD’s such as “Guadiano” (1996) and “Sueste” (1999), the result of experimenting with the wealth of material available for flamenco guitar. All CDs available from the “Farol Música” label.
Running time: approx 2 hours, inc. one interval