Year of the Dog celebrated with bells and whistles

THE arts are often a barometer of changes happening in the wider world.

The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s first Chinese New Year Concert sees one of major cultural institutions acknowledging the transformations taking place in the geopolitical, economic and social landscape.

It also shows the ASO reaching out to a sector of our community that is likely to be vital to its future. The orchestra took a lot of care to get the cultural setting right, with ang pows (red envelopes) of sweets on every seat, red silk banners, canine projections for the Year of the Dog and even fireworks on stage.

Conductor Jason Lai was both the engaging host and dynamic conductor of a cross-cultural program that opened with Sean O’Boyle’s Rooster Fanfarefeaturing the Shanghai Empireast drum ensemble and William Barton on didjeridu.

The major work was the Yellow River Piano Concerto, an important work in the history of classical music in China, stitched together by a committee of composers from Xian Xinghai’s Yellow River Cantata.

Warren Lee was the excellent soloist, notable especially for his delicate and expressive playing in the second movement. Chinese traditional singer Yafen was outstanding in Guan Xia’s Farewell My Concubine and the famous Moli Hua (Jasmine Flower), with additional authentic colour added by musicians from Adelaide’s own School of Chinese Music and Arts.

Liu Yuan’s Train Toccata, replete with whistles and singing, was hugely entertaining. Ravel, Tchaikovsky and others added to cross-cultural mix.

The concert ended with a brilliant display by the Shanghai drummers in full Chinese opera costume, followed by Li Huanzhi’s Spring Festival Overture.

From every perspective this event was a great success and is likely to be repeated right through the Chinese Zodiac.

Chinese New Year Concert

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