49th Orchestral Season

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The 49th Orchestral Season Opening Concert
Silken Notes of the Pipa

2025 China National Arts Fund Stage Art Creation Fund Project

China Welfare Lottery and China Sports Lottery Public Welfare Funds

China Taiping Insurance (HK) Company Limited Proudly Supports

One of the Programmes of Chinese Culture Festival 2025 and Asia+ Festival 2025

Supported by the Belt and Road Office of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau

One Belt One Road Arts and Culture Strategic Partner-The Education University of Hong Kong

Date and Time
Sep 12-13 (Fri, Sat) 8:00pm
Venue
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
Ticket Fee
$450, $350, $300, $250
Conductor
Yan Huichang
Performed by
Five-string pipa : Fang Jinlong
Satsuma-biwa : Akiko Kubota
Oud : Giannis Koutis
Four-string pipa : Zhang Ying
Guqin: Wang Youdi
Guan: Qin Jitao
Duduk: Ma Wai Him
Shakuhachi、Chinese Dizi: Sun Yongzhi
Nanyin Pipa: Wong Yui Kiu


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"Silken Notes of the Pipa" has been awarded the China National Arts Fund's Stage Art Creation Fund. This concert marks the orchestra's second selection for this prestigious project following "Trail of the Blue Dragon," and is also one of the key programs of the "Chinese Culture Festival 2025" and the Asia+ Festival 2025. The Silk Road symbolizes the exchange and integration of cultures and arts between ancient and modern, East and West. As the foremost plucked string instrument, the pipa has inspired a diverse and emotionally rich repertoire of narrative music across different regions. Like voices from all directions, it conveys the history and stories of various lands, captivating audiences with its profound and lasting resonance. The national orchestral suite "Silken Notes of the Pipa" performed in this concert, is composed based on different types of pipa instruments, each corresponding to unique expressive forms and sonic characteristics. The suite is divided into seven movements: Prelude – "Riding the Winds and Breaking the Waves," "Literature-The Beautiful Jade and The Mythical Bird from The Classic of Poetry" "Martial Arts – King Chu Doffs His Armour", Interlude – "A Gentle Breeze," "Heroic Spirit – Heart of the Ocean," "Distinguished Guests – Serene Symphonic Poem," and Postlude – "Sailing Across the Vast Ocean." Each movement boasts distinct styles and clear layers, showcasing the depth and breadth of musical storytelling. The concert will bring together instruments such as the five-string pipa, four-string pipa, Japanese Satsuma-biwa, Oud, and Shakuhachi, performed alongside the Chinese orchestra to weave together diverse regional flavors that transcend time and space, bridging China and the world!

演出曲目

Movement I: Riding the Winds and Breaking the Waves (Prelude)
Chinese Orchestra
 Riding the Winds and Breaking the Waves Chan Ming-chi (Commissioned by HKCO / World Premiere)


Movement II: Literature – The Beautiful Jade and The Mythical Bird from The Classic of Poetry
Five-string Pipa and Chinese Orchestra    The Beautiful Jade    Ma Jiuyue
Five-string Pipa and Chinese Orchestra    The Mythical Bird    Ma Jiuyue

Five-string Pipa, Shakuhachi: Fang Jinlong


Movement III: Martial Arts – King Chu Doffs His Armour

Pipa and Chinese Orchestra    King Chu Doffs His Armour    Ancient Tune 

Transcribed by Shen Haochu        Compiled by Lin Shicheng Arranged by Kuan Nai-chung

Pipa: Zhang Ying


Movement IV: A Gentle Breeze (Interlude)
Guqin, Guan, Duduk and Chinese Orchestra    A Gentle Breeze    Chan Ming-chi
(Commissioned by HKCO / World Premiere)

Guqin: Wang Youdi        Guan: Qin Jitao        Duduk: Ma Wai Him


Movement V: Heroic Spirit – Heart of the Ocean
Satsuma-biwa, Shakuhachi and Chinese Orchestra    Heart of the Ocean   Chan Ming-chi
(Commissioned by HKCO / World Premiere)

Satsuma-biwa: Akiko Kubota        Shakuhachi, Chinese Dizi: Sun Yongzhi


Movement VI: Distinguished Guests – Serene Symphonic Poem
Oud and Chinese Orchestra    Serene Symphonic Poem    Gazi Giray Han “Tatar”, Chan Ming-chi
(Commissioned by HKCO / World Premiere)

Oud: Giannis Koutis


Movement VII: Sailing Across the Vast Ocean (Postlude)
Pipa, Five-string Pipa, Satsuma-biwa, Oud and Chinese Orchestra
Sailing Across the Vast Ocean    Chan Ming-chi (Commissioned by HKCO / World Premiere)
Pipa: Zhang Ying        Five-string Pipa: Fang Jinlong        Satsuma-biwa: Akiko Kubota        Oud: Giannis Koutis


The concert lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes without an intermission.


“Silken Notes of the Pipa” Lecture

Speaker:Fang Jinlong

Date: 10 Sept 2025 (Wed)

Time:7:30pm

Venue:Lecture Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library

Fee:$80

-Free registration for audience with tickets to the concert "Silken Notes of the Pipa"

-Friend of HKCO (25% off)

-Full-time Students / Senior Citizens Aged 60 or Above / People with Disabilities & the Minder* / Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Recipients(50% off)

Registration and tickets:https://www.art-mate.net/doc/86539