Special Chinese New Year Treat for Symphony Fans

DETROIT, MI – A special Chinese New Year celebration is in store this year in Metro Detroit, especially for symphony fans.

The internationally acclaimed China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra makes its Orchestra Hall debut with graceful, joyous, and energetic works, presented by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

In celebration of the Year of the Monkey, renowned conductor Pang Kapang leads the CBCO in performing popular and traditional music showcasing the rich history of China.

The full DSO does not appear in this concert, but Wei Yu, principal cellist, will perform as soloist with CBCO banhu performer Jiang Kemei on the cheerful “Huaer Caprice,” which tells the timeless love story of a guard and a local girl.

The program, which also includes traditional pieces such as the jubilant “Spring Festival Prelude” and vivid “Birds Adoring the Phoenix,” takes place at 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at Orchestra Hall, 3711 Woodward Ave., in Detroit.

The concert falls near the end of the celebration of the Chinese New Year, which is Feb. 8. In Asia, festivities normally begin the day before the New Year and continue through the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the new year.

The DSO will webcast the Chinese New Year Celebration to a global audience during the performance via the DSO’s “Live from Orchestra Hall” series. Log on to dso.org/live to view the concert from your computer or mobile device anywhere in the world.

Founded in 1953, the music of the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra (CBCO) is composed of the string, plucked, wind, and percussion instruments it made famous as the brand for Chinese music.

Conductor and composer Peng Xiuwen, who led CBCO for more than 50 years, helped establish the orchestra as the symbol of Chinese culture, and its arrangements symbolize the Chinese folk music other professional folk orchestras now embrace.

The orchestra, which has produced CDs, movies, and television and radio programs, has performed in more than 70 countries around the world.

CBCO conductor Pang Kapang is also music director of the Macao Chinese Orchestra and principal conductor of the China Opera and Dance-Drama Theatre, China Oriental Symphony Orchestra, and Oriental Chinese Orchestra.

Wei performed has been the principal cello, occupying the James C. Gordon Chair, of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra since January 2015. He performed Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in his Nov., 2015, solo debut with the DSO.

Prior to joining the DSO, Wei was a member of the New York Philharmonic. He is a prizewinner at the Hudson Valley Philharmonic String, Holland American Music Society Cello, Music Teacher National Association (MTNA National Collegiate Strings), Canada’s National Music Festival, Calgary’s Kiwanis Festival, and China’s National Cello competitions.

Born in Shanghai, China, Wei earned his bachelor of music from North Park University in Chicago and M.M. from the Juilliard School in New York.

The performance features:

Pang Kapang, conductor

Chen Yin, pipa

Zhou Yixiana, suona

Hou Changging, bamboo flute

Jiang Kemei, banhu, jinghu

Cui Junmiao, yue qin

Ma Li, pan-ku

Program to include:

Li Huanzhi: “Spring Festival Prelude”

Traditional, arranged by Peng Xiuwen: “Moonlit River in Spring”

Traditional, arranged by Wang Fujian: “Birds Adoring the Phoenix”

Traditional, arranged by Gu Guanren: “A Lovely Rose”

Traditional, arranged by Bai Haoyu: “Flowing Stream”

Mao Yuan and Liu Tieshan: “Dance of the Yao People”

Tang Jianping:” Dance of the Golden Snake”

Jian Guangy and Wang Zhiwei: “New Song of the Herdsmen”

Traditional, arranged by Liu Wenjin: “Jasmine Flower”

Bai Haoyu: “Huaer Caprice”

Traditional, arranged by Wu Hua: “Night Thoughts”

Jiang Ying: “Silk Road”

Ticket Information: Tickets to the Chinese New Year Celebration, $15 general admission and $50 for reserved box seats, may be purchased at dso.org, via the free DSO to Go mobile app, in person at the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center Box Office (3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit), or by calling (313) 576-5111. They’re also available online.

Getting there: Attendees can find up-to-date details about the best route to take to Orchestra Hall during construction of the M-1 Rail streetcar in Midtown at dso.org/m1 and m-1rail.com. Woodward will always remain open in Midtown throughout the construction period. Complete closures are restricted to the downtown section of the rail line. Work has commenced on the southbound track between Temple and Canfield streets, shifting traffic to the northbound side of Woodward. There is one northbound, one south bound and one turn lane open on this stretch. Coming in to Midtown, an extra 15 minutes for travel time is recommended, as well as using Cass Avenue, instead of Woodward Avenue when possible.

» Photos of Chen Yin on pipa and, below, a picture of the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra courtesy of Detroit Symphony Orchestra.