The Sound of Spring concert held at SOAS, University of London, on March 3rd, wowed audiences with music from across China.
The Sound of Spring Concert was organised by SOAS Professor of Practice Dr Cheng Yu as the artistic director. It involved over 50 musicians, representing a range of Chinese regions, styles, and instruments. This included the SOAS Silk & Bamboo Chinese Music Ensemble and the London Youlan Qin Society. There was also a 25-member Chinese orchestra conducted by Yi-chuan Chen.
Certainly, the most unique aspect of the concert was the sheer range of Chinese regions represented in the performances. There was Peking opera from Beijing in the north, Cantonese melodies from the south, Chaozhou string music, a performance by folk singer Gao Danyue from Yunnan province, and representation from many more regions.
There was also a performance of Sichuan face changing, whose performance reached a crescendo by breathing fire.
Speaking after the concert to China Minutes, Dr Cheng Yu said that the Sound of Spring concert “fulfilled one of my long-held aspirations and desires” to “present a performance by such a large Chinese orchestra composed of talented musicians in Britain.”
As was mentioned in the introduction of the concert, the Chinese 25-member orchestra was the largest collection of Chinese instruments (and one cello) for a long time in China, highlighting just how special an event this was.
She explained: “When planning this New Year’s concert, the theme was very clear: to focus on ‘pure traditional music’, ‘intangible cultural heritage’, and ‘national treasures’. This is because such opportunities are extremely rare in the West. I hope everyone will pay attention, participate, and support the future of traditional Chinese music in the West.”
Ealing Councillor Andrew Bailey, who attended the concert, said that it was “absolutely amazing”. He added, “I lost myself in the music, I felt the tradition and the culture. I wished it wouldn’t end.”
The concert took place on the evening of the 3rd of March. That was the last day of the Chinese New Year, as the Year of the Fire Horse was welcomed. It was performed at the SOAS Gallery in central London.
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