Qigang Chen is a leading Chinese composer, who shares his working life between Beijing and Paris * works show marked influence of traditional Chinese folk music, blended into idiomatic orchestral writing in an entirely organic way * exquisite orchestral textures and dramatic gestures, best represented in the celebrated work Iris dévoilée * particular affinity with writing for the voice; has worked with vocalists from various traditions * music for the ballet Raise the Red Lantern, directed by the auteur Zhang Yi-Mou and toured internationally by the National Ballet of China * Director of Music for Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony * major interpreters include Yo-Yo Ma, Edo de Waart, Roger Norrington, Long Yu
Works by Qigang Chen include Er Huang (2009) for piano and orchestra
Looking ahead: featured composer at Vale of Glamorgan Festival in Wales (1-11 May); new orchestral work for the Hong Kong Philharmonic and a second ballet
"His compositions display real inventiveness, very great talent and a total assimilation of Chinese thinking to European musical concepts." — Olivier Messiaen
Britten's pacifist masterwork, combining war poetry by Wilfred Owen with the Latin Requiem Mass, is included in the Masterworks Library of full scores, ideal for conductors, students and music lovers.
