Boosey & Hawkes

Qigang Chen: new concerto for Lang Lang

(June 2009)

Qigang Chen’s new concerto for piano virtuoso Lang Lang, Er Huang, the first concert work under his new agreement with Boosey & Hawkes, receives its premiere in New York on 28 October. Commissioned by Carnegie Hall for its Ancient Paths, Modern Voices festival celebrating Chinese culture, the work’s first performance features the Juilliard Orchestra conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas and the Chinese premiere is planned for Spring 2010.

Chen describes the new 15-minute concerto as “a theme and variations with a twist” based on a well-known Beijing opera melody, Er Huang yuan ban. Er Huang is one of the principal aria types originating in Anhui province in eastern China, characterised by a strong and stable melody associated with thoughtful moods, whereas Yuan Ban indicates a medium tempo for active story-telling. Melodic variations are a fundamental technique in Beijing opera, as well as in Western classical music, so by adopting this form Chen has created a work that can happily cross frontiers, as well as challenge Lang Lang’s brilliance.

In 2008 Qigang Chen was Director of Music for the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Beijing, when his song You and Me was performed at the end of the ceremony by British soprano Sarah Brightman and Chinese male vocalist Liu Huan to an estimated audience of 100,000 in the stadium, and several billion worldwide via TV. The melody became an instant classic, with China Mobile reporting 10 million downloads during the first month after release.

This year, Chen has returned to his more familiar composing role, with plans for new works including a joint commission from the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Radio France and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic for the 2011-12 season. Chen’s music will be the focus of a composer feature at the Shanghai EXPO in Spring 2010.

> Further information on Work: Er Huang

Photo: Liu Hui

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