Free concerts for July

Shenzhen Concert Hall is offering five free concerts on keys and strings this July.

(Clockwise from top left) Zhao Jin, Deng Tingxuan, Huang Zilan, Lu Xiangyu and Zhang Li. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Concert Hall

On July 2, Zhao Jin, piano professor of Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou, performed a recital with her students Zhang Li, Deng Tingxuan, Huang Zilan and Lu Xiangyu. They performed such romantic tunes as Chopin’s “Polonaise-Fantasy” and nocturnes and Liszt’s “Spanish Rhapsody” and “Hungarian Rhapsodies.” Zhao graduated with a doctorate from UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and has performed across Europe, Asia and the Americas. She is also an enthusiastic pedagogue who often gives free lectures to piano students and music fans.

(From L) Li Songyang, Qian Kun and He Limei. 

On July 16, harpists Qian Kun and He Limei will collaborate with Li Songyang, teaching director of the violin and viola subject of Shenzhen Arts School (SAS), to give a lecture-concert on harp music. Presented via video clips on a big screen in addition to live performance, the concert will teach the audience about the history, evolvement and repertoire of this unique instrument. They will also hear Pachelbel’s “Canon in D,” a celebrated Baroque piece, as well as Saint-Saëns’ fan-favorite “Carnival of the Animals.” In 2016, Qian, as the soloist, collaborated with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra on the world premiere of Chinese composer He Zhanhao’s concerto “The Peacock’s Sad Tale” composed for the ancient Chinse instrument konghou (a plucked strings instrument similar to the harp) and an orchestra.

(Clockwise from top left) Xu Wei, Dong Meng, Peng Chenyan, Jin Di, Xiao Ting and Shao Bing.

On July 23, six cellists, including Xu Wei of Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra and SAS teacher Xiao Ting, will perform such dreamy tunes as Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers” (the most melodious excerpt from “The Nutcracker”) and “The Fairy Garden” from Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite.”

(From L) Xia Chuanhui, Marianna Teterian and Golysheva Emiliya.

Gan Yilu (L) and Shao Yifan.

For the Afternoon Music Time series, a violin and piano concert led the audience on a journey of violin concertos with works from Bach, Vivaldi, Rossini and Shostakovich on July 8; another concert on July 29 will be devoted to piano music, with Gan Yilu and Shao Yifan and their students performing the works of Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Scriabin and Chinese composer Zhang Zhao.

Time: 3 p.m. July 2, 8, 16, 23, 29

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (福田区深圳音乐厅)

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