Tan Dun brings Chinese premiere of 'Nine'

With ticket prices set at 99 yuan (US$13.6) and 199 yuan, Nanshan District’s New Year’s concert, a latecomer to the festive season, offers a fantastic deal without compromising on quality.

Composer and conductor Tan Dun. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Poly Theater

Under the direction of Tan Dun, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) and its chorus will enchant the audience with a mix of familiar Chinese melodies and original compositions by Tan himself. Of particular note, the program will feature the Chinese debut of Tan’s choral concerto “Nine.”

The concert will also feature solo performances by renowned musicians, including sheng player Zhang Meng, pipa player Han Yan, and suona player Liu Wenwen.

Pipa player Han Yan.

During the first half of the evening, the audience will be treated to sheng player Zhang’s innovative rendition of Nie Er’s “Dance of the Golden Snake,” a joyous overture fitting for the upcoming Chinese Year of the Snake in January. 

Then, Han Yan, a faculty member of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, will captivate listeners with Tan’s pipa concerto, showcasing the expressive depth of this traditional Chinese plucked string instrument.

Suona player Liu Wenwen.

Liu Wenwen, China's first Ph.D. student specializing in the suona, a traditional Chinese instrument often featured in rural village ceremonies, will also showcase her skills. She will perform “Hundreds of Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,” a timeless suona piece adapted by Ren Tongxiang. This composition includes vivid bird calls and a virtuosic segment that demands special breathing techniques for sustaining notes.

Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.

Following the intermission, the audience will be treated to the Chinese premiere of Tan’s “Nine,” paired with the iconic “Ode to Joy” from the final movement of Beethoven’s ninth symphony. 

Originally commissioned by the U.K.’s Royal Philharmonic Society and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth in 2020, the work saw its planned premiere delayed by the pandemic. Tan reconsidered his composition and expanded “Nine” into three movements, respectively titled “Nine,” “Wine,” and “Time” (“Ode to Peace”), which juxtapose Chinese texts alongside the words of “Ode to Joy” by Friedrich Schiller. The Chinese texts are from such great poets as Qu Yuan and Li Bai.

Conducted by Tan, the world premiere of “Nine” occurred Aug. 29 at the Rheingau Musik Festival, performed by the National Youth Orchestra of Germany and the World Youth Choir. Following a successful European tour, Tan led the Australian premiere in September with the Melbourne Symphony and Chorus.

This concert promises to take listeners on a thrilling musical journey, igniting their zest for life with celestial melodies and invigorating rhythms.

Time: 8 p.m., Jan. 13

Tickets: 99-199 yuan

Venue: Shenzhen Poly Theater, Nanshan District (深圳保利剧院)

Metro: Line 2 or 11 to Houhai Station (后海站), Exit E