Public benefit concerts for June

A poster for the Beautiful Sunday series. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Concert Hall

This June, Shenzhen Concert Hall presents a lecture and an a cappella concert as part of its Beautiful Sunday public benefit series, along with three additional free performances in the Afternoon Music Time series.

Savoring Rachmaninoff

Renowned music critic Li Yanhuan will share insights into Rachmaninoff’s five piano concertos, composed across different periods. These works will be performed by pianist Zhang Haochen and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Huang Yi on June 14 and 15.

Li Yanhuan.

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943), the last great figure of Russian Romanticism, was both a celebrated composer and a virtuoso pianist. He is best known for his piano concertos and “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” for piano and orchestra.

Li Yanhuan, author of “Classical Music Made Easy: Masters and Masterpieces in the Hall of Music,” has delivered acclaimed lectures and written scripts for Shanghai’s classical music radio channel FM947, dedicating himself to public music education. The lecture is free, but tickets are required.

Time: 3 p.m., June 8

Half-Tone a cappella concert

Half-Tone a cappella ensemble.

To celebrate the first anniversary of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, Zhongshan-based ensemble Half-Tone will perform a Beautiful Sunday concert on June 29.

For over a decade, Half-Tone has championed a cappella music — vocal performances without instrumental accompaniment. The group has won top prizes, including at the 2017 Brown Bear A Cappella Festival (Xinghai Conservatory of Music) and the 7th Guangdong Music and Dance Festival.

Led by tenor Liu Qi (original singer of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link’s theme song “Crossing the Lingding Ocean”), the ensemble — featuring Li Min (bass), Zhang Chao (baritone), Xie Jing (soprano), Luo Shengze (bass), and Lu Rongjian (vocal percussion) — will perform beloved classics like “The Crescent Moon,” “Spring Breeze,” “Half Moon Serenade,” “At Least There Is You,” and “Thinking of You.”

Time: 3 p.m., June 29

Tickets: 10–30 yuan

Afternoon Music Time

The free Afternoon Music Time series offers three concerts on June 7, 21, and 28.

June 7 – Chamber music gala

Performers of the June 7 concert.

Young violinists Dai Chenyu, Qu Zhangyangzi, Guo Yue, Xu Jiaying, and Liu Yuanyuan, cellist Liu Yichan, and pianist Li Jingshuang will perform popular film/TV scores, excerpts from “The Phantom of the Opera,” and Piazzolla’s “Libertango.”

June 21 – Pipa showcase

Performers of the June 21 concert.

Rising pipa players Ji Yin, Gong Jie, Yang Lin, and Luo Wenrui will present solo and ensemble works, including Jay Chou’s “Blue and White Porcelain” and Wang Danhong’s folk-inspired “Dream of Jiangnan.”

June 28 – Piano & strings recital

Performers of the June 28 concert.

Pianist Lu Ming, violinists Zhao Wanyu and Xia Chuanhui, and their students will perform Shostakovich’s waltz, Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” Monti’s “Csárdás,” Brahms’ “Hungarian Dances,” and Bach’s “Concerto for Two Violins.”

Free tickets can be reserved via Shenzhen Concert Hall’s official WeChat (ID: szyinyuet).

Time: 3 p.m., June 7, 21, 28

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

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