A Feast of the Classical and Popular

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 11:56 am

A Feast of the Classical and Popular BEIJING: A gloomy outlook on the world economy doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to wear a sullen look all the time. In the shelter of music and dazzling shows, you can still find some things to cheer you up.

In the two months leading up to the Spring Festival, Shenzhen Poly Theater will present 11 exciting programs featuring classical music, ballet, a song and dance gala, drama and a musical, with tickets as low as 80 yuan (11.8 U.S. dollars).

Classical music lovers will have a chance to hear the China Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO), Russian National Orchestra (RNO), Navarra Symphony Orchestra (NSO) of Spain and Nordrhein Westfalen State Orchestra (NWSO) from Germany.

The CPO, established on the basis of the China Broadcasting Symphonic Orchestra, has Yu Long as its chief conductor and artistic director. One of the best symphony orchestras in China, the CPO has collaborated with many renowned musicians, including Mikhail Pletnev, Anatal Ugorski, Gerhad Oppitz, Itzhak Perlman and Lang Lang.

Under the baton of Dmitri Orlov, the RNO has been welcome throughout the music world ever since its 1990 Moscow premiere. The first Russian orchestra to perform at the Vatican and in Israel, the RNO maintains an active international tour schedule in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Popular with radio audiences worldwide, RNO concerts are regularly aired by National Public Radio in the United States and by the European Broadcasting Union.

Its recording of Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” and Beintus’ “Wolf Tracks,” conducted by Kent Nagano, received a 2004 Grammy Award. The RNO’s renditions of Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich have been praised by some reviewers as the best in the world.

The NSO, founded in 1879 by violin master Pablo Sarasate, will be on its first Chinese visit to mark the 100th anniversary of the violinist’s death. A composer and violin genius, Sarasate premiered his “Carmen Fantasy” and many other masterpieces with this orchestra. Ernest Martinez Izquierdo is the present conductor and the NSO frequently collaborates with top musicians and vocalists around the world.

The half-a-century-old NWSO from Germany is well versed in interpreting both classical symphonies and Romantic pieces.

The only musical of the season, “Empress Sissi” produced by the renowned Schneider-Siemssen Theater Company, will have Gunther Schneider-Siemssen as consultant and Tamas Ferkay as director. The story is based on the film series “Sissi” with the music composed by Georg Stampfer. The 135-minute show combines the strengths of 46 solo singers and a grand choir, a symphony orchestra from Vienna and a stunning stage set.

Modern dance fans cannot miss “Tango Fire” presented by the Estampas Portenas tango company.

Talented ballerina and choreographer Carolina Soler Alencastre founded the company in 1996, one of the best in today’s world. The troupe has toured the United States and Europe as well as some Asian nations following big success in its homeland Argentina.

This year, it will bring Argentina’s hottest show “Tango Fire” to the Shenzhen Poly Theater.

Period duets will evoke the heady nostalgia of the early dance halls where tango was popularized, while the group’s modern choreography is edged with the sharpness and sophistication of contemporary Argentina. This gala combines rawness and sophistication and the sensuality of the tango in a spectacular show.

Nostalgic Chinese audiences can relive their younger days in the songs presented by the Red Army Chorus and Dance Ensemble from Russia.

The history of the legendary Russian choir began in 1929. Since than it has traveled the world performing the music of Russia. In 1978 it was renamed after Boris Alexandrov, the troupe’s director from 1946 to 1986.

A large troup featuring a male choir, mixed dance group and orchestra, the Red Army Choir attracted international attention when it took first place at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1937. Much of the group’s repertoire, including such tunes as “We Are the Red Cavalry” and “Song of the Volga Boatmen” has passed into Russian folklore.

Another song and dance troupe from Russia, by the name of “Little Birch,” will present the best part of Russian folk songs and dances.

Ballet fans can savor Tschaikovsky’s classicals “Sleeping Beauty,” “Nutcracker” and “Swan Lake” by the prestigious Russian National Ballet Theater.