Masters to headline SZSO new season

Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO)

Entering his third year with Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO), director Lin Daye has honored his promise to bring more influential guest musicians and attract bigger audiences to their concerts.

The opening concert of the new music season, scheduled for Sept. 7, follows the contemporary trend in classical music by bringing Puccini’s “Turandot” in concert to local audiences.

Then, on Sept. 27, Daniele Gatti, chief conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam and one of three top conductors of the younger generation, will lead SZSO to perform works by Brahms. The 56-year-old Italian conductor has helped restore the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s status on par to the other main London orchestras, led Orchestre National de France and served as chief conductor of the Zurich Opera before being appointed to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra post in 2016. This will be the first time that Gatti conducts a Chinese orchestra. He will present Brahms’ “Double Concerto in A Minor” in collaboration with violinist Ning Feng and cellist Nie Jiapeng.

Based in Berlin and enjoying a global career, 36-year-old Ning is hailed as an artist of great lyricism and emotional transparency, displaying tremendous bravura and awe-inspiring technical accomplishment.

Apart from this concert, Ning will also perform at the closing concert of the season Paganini’s “Violin Concerto No. 1,” a very challenging piece that fully displays Paganini’s technical wizardry.

On the night of Oct. 26, French classical pianist Helene Grimaud will debut in town and collaborate with SZSO to perform Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major,” a reserved piece in her repertoire.

Andreas Ottensamer, one of the most sought-after musicians today, will perform “Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F Minor” by Carl Maria von Weber for fans Nov. 9. At 29, the Austrian musician born into a long line of musicians is the principal clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Also appearing in SZSO’s new season will be guest conductors Yu Long, Taijiro Iimori, Tan Dun, Lyu Jia, and woman conductor Zhang Xian, among others. Featured soloists include violinists Clara-Jumi Kang, Yang Tianwa, Chen Xi and Eldbjorg Hemsing, cellist Qin Liwei, pianists Zuo Zhang, Zhang Lu, harpist Xavier de Maistre, percussionist Zhu Zongqing, Met Opera singer Tian Haojiang, and ballerina Qiu Siting. Cellist Qin and violinist Ning Feng have signed on as designated guest performers and will work closely with the orchestra during the new season.

Schedule for 2018-2019 music season

7:30 p.m., Sept. 7

“Turandot” in concert

8 p.m., Sept. 14

“A Summer’s Midday Dream”

8 p.m., Sept. 27

Daniele Gatti’s night with Brahms

8 p.m., Oct. 5

Fantasy (Mozart and Berlioz)

8 p.m., Oct. 26

Opening concert of Shenzhen Piano Music Festival

(Helene Grimaud’s interpretation of Beethoven)

8 p.m., Nov. 2

A night with Zhu Zongqing Percussion Band

8 p.m., Nov. 9

In memory of Debussy

(Andreas Ottensamer performing Weber “Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F Minor”)

8 p.m., Nov. 23

“Petrushka” by Igor Stravinsky

8 p.m., Nov. 30

Mozart vs. Ravel

8 p.m., Dec. 21

Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra and BBC National Orchestra of Wales in concert

7:30, 10:30 p.m., Dec. 31

2019 New Year’s Concert

8 p.m., Jan. 11

Tan Dun’s “Water and Fire”

8 p.m., Jan. 18

Moments of victory (Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev)

8 p.m., Jan. 25

Romantic (Ravel and Rachmaninoff)

8 p.m., Feb. 22

Yu Long conducting Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6 in B Minor”

(Xavier de Maistre performing Gliere’s “Harp Concerto”)

8 p.m., March 1

Pastoral (Schumann and Brahms)

8 p.m., March 8

Hammers of fate (Sibelius and Mahler)

8 p.m., March 15

Destiny (Prokofiev and Shostakovich)

May (time undecided)

Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra and Macao Orchestra in concert

“An Alpine Symphony” by Richard Strauss

8 p.m., May 11

ICIF art festival concert

7:30 p.m., May 31

Children’s Day concert

8 p.m., June 8

Danzi and Richard Strauss

8 p.m., June 14

A Russian night (Mussorgsky and Rachmaninoff)

8 p.m., June 28

Hero (Bruch and Bruckner)

8 p.m., July 5

“The Great C Major”

(Zuo Zhang performing Liszt “Concerto No. 2 in A Major”)

8 p.m., July 12

“Don Quixote”

8 p.m., July 19

Closing concert

“A Hero’s Life” by Richard Strauss(Ning Feng performing Paganini’s “Violin Concerto No. 1”)

(All concerts listed above will be performed at Shenzhen Concert Hall. Tickets will be 50-880 yuan, except for New Year’s Concert and two concerts co-performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Macao Orchestra.)

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Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, intersection of Hongli Road and Yitian Road, Futian District (福田区红荔路和益田路交汇处深圳音乐厅)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D