Choral concert to welcome a new year

Led by Luo Shenka, the resident conductorof the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) Chorus, the ensemble will present avocal concert this Sunday afternoon to welcome the New Year. Accompanied bypianists Li Wenwen and Guan Jun from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, thesingers promise a heartwarming afternoon surrounded by classical music.

A poster for the SZSO Chorus concert on Dec. 22. Photos courtesy of SZSO

The first part of the concert will featureexcerpts from the works of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. With a prolificcareer that includes over 25 operas, Verdi is hailed as one of the greatestcomposers in history, and his works have been part of the most performedclassical music repertoire worldwide. He produced many successful operas,including “La Traviata,” “Falstaff” and “Aida,” and became known for his skillsin creating beautiful melodies and his profound use of theatrical effects. Healso reformed the traditional Italian opera by introducing multiple scenes andacts for a show.

The SZSO Chorus was founded in June, 2007.

Sunday’s concert program will includeselections from Verdi's notable works like "Nabucco," which markedthe beginning of his successful career in 1842; "Il Trovatore," considered one of his masterpieces; "I Masnadieri," commissioned by aLondon theater showcasing his European popularity; "Giovanna d'Arco," inspired by Friedrich Schiller's drama; "Macbeth," based on theShakespearean classic; and the magnificent "Aida," premiered at theCairo Opera House in 1871 to commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal twoyears earlier.

The second part of the concert will payhomage to Giacomo Puccini, another esteemed Italian composer known for hiscontributions to realism in opera through works like "La Bohème" and"Madama Butterfly." This year marks the centenary of Puccini'spassing, during which his unfinished opera "Turandot" left a lastinglegacy. Featuring epic choral passages and intimate moments,"Turandot" features the chorus in a prominent role unique toPuccini's oeuvre. The opera's standout aria, "Nessun Dorma," is amongthe most famous in the operatic world. The audience at Sunday's concert willexperience this iconic piece, along with excerpts from "MadamaButterfly" and other masterful compositions by Puccini.

Tickets: 50-880 yuan

Time: 3 p.m., Dec. 22

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