Time Out Beijing and
The Bookworm present Sunday Salon, the only monthly interactive lecture series taking you ‘behind the classical music’ of China, in an intimate setting. Every month, we invite an important classical musician and/or composer to play extracts from their music and discuss their inspirations behind the music. This is a unique opportunity to listen to the great musicians from China and ask them questions directly about their incredible talents.
13 May 2012 - Zhang Hongyan
Hailing from Zhejiang,
pipa player Zhang Hongyan began playing at age seven, and since then has become an international star, performing with both Western and Chinese orchestras around the world.
The
pipa is one of the most versatile and technically difficult of China’s traditional instruments, requiring great stamina and flexible fingering.
Zhang is known for blending Western and Chinese music, her commitment to music education and her refusal to take a “set fee”, receiving anywhere from 500RMB -100,000RMB per concert. For Zhang, it’s about the music, and musicians are there to serve. Don’t miss this fresh look at an ancient tradition.
29 April 2012 - Chu Yibing
Beijing native Chu Yibing began playing at seven, studied in Paris at seventeen and later became the principal cellist of the Basel Symphony Orchestra, Europe’s second highest-paid cello position.
Today, as the Central Conservatory of Music’s Cello Department head, he leads China’s first and only permanent chamber ensemble, the China Cello Philharmonic.
11 December 2011 - Ji WeiRenowned
guzheng (Chinese zither) musician Ji Wei’s astonishing resume includes performing concerts and festivals around the world, producing dozens of CDs and educational DVDs and authoring textbooks. In addition, Ji
was China’s only
guzheng player to win the Golden Record of Best Performer and the world’s first
guzheng musician to record with Deutsche Grammophon-Gesellshaft. She also works to increase the repertoire and marry the
guzheng with modern music. In 2009, Hong Kong’s
Jessica magazine named her one of their Top Ten Successful Women. Don’t miss this special Sunday Salon with
guzheng artist Ji Wei.
Praising by Ji Wei by Time Out Beijing
Spring by Ji Wei by Time Out Beijing
Elegant by Ji Wei by Time Out Beijing 13 November 2011 - Fan JingmaCritic Sam Su, promoter Zhang Kexin and
Time Out Beijing/Shanghai’s Classical and Performance editor Nancy Pellegrini are thrilled to present one of China’s most established and respected operatic tenors. A prize-winner in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition before enjoying a lengthy career on the planet's best opera stages, Fan Jingma’s colourful life includes making his own violin, selling his own pirated CDs, working with digital orchestra technology and reinventing China’s opera training.
Fan Jingma at Sunday Salon by Time Out Beijing
8 May 2011 - Wang Xilin
Wang Xilin, the best Chinese composer you've never heard of is known as 'China's Shostakovich', Wang was persecuted under the Cultural Revolution; like his Soviet counterpart, his music is a direct representation of the fury and the agony he endured, as well as his attempts to heal the wounds of his beloved country.
Listen to Wang Xilin’s Piano Concerto, courtesy of The Opposite House, below or click here to download.
10 April 2011 - Chu Yibing
Once the principal cellists of Switzerland’s Basel Symphony Orchestra, today Beijing native Chu Yibing is the head of the Central Conservatory of Music’s Cello department and the leader of China’s first and only permanent chamber group. The China Cello Philharmonic has played for both Chinese President Hu and US President Obama and is in high touring demand.
9 January 2011 - Yang Xiaoyu
Yang Xiaoyu is musically gifted, technically brilliant and China's fastest rising violin star, currently serving as the new National Centre of the Performing Arts Orchestra's Concert Master.
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