Huang Mengla to perform Sibelius concerto

A poster for the concert on April 18. Photos courtesy of SZSO

Conducted by Japanese maestro Kosuke Tsunoda, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) will perform Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman Overture,” alongside Sibelius’ “Violin Concerto in D Minor” and “Symphony No. 2 in D Major” on April 18.

Huang Mengla, celebrated violinist, Paganini International Violin Competition gold medalist, and faculty member of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, will take the stage as soloist.

Wagner’s opera “The Flying Dutchman” premiered in 1843 in Dresden under the composer’s baton. It tells the tale of a ghostly captain cursed to roam the seas until redeemed by true love. The overture masterfully intertwines the opera’s leitmotifs, weaving the narrative into a sweeping musical tapestry.

Born 160 years ago in 1865, Jean Sibelius remains Scandinavia’s most revered symphonic composer. A beacon of Finnish nationalism, his music immortalizes the snow-draped Nordic forests, serene lakes, and stormy Baltic waves, channeling the heroic spirit of the epic Kalevala into his seven symphonies and the iconic tone poem “Finlandia.”

Violinist Huang Mengla.

Sibelius’ violin concerto (1903, rev. 1905), an early yet enduring masterpiece, merges Finland’s natural splendor with Homeric grandeur. Beloved by violinists for its rhapsodic brilliance and technical demands, the work showcases the instrument’s lyrical soul. The opening movement contrasts a soaring, melancholic theme with a brooding second motif, both culminating in a dazzling cadenza. The adagio pulses with aching poignancy, while the Gypsy-tinged finale erupts in fiery orchestral hues.

Huang, among today’s most compelling violinists, is renowned for his electrifying technique and profound musicality. His interpretation promises to illuminate Sibelius’ concerto — a cornerstone of the violin repertoire.

Kosuke Tsunoda, music director of the Central Aichi Symphony Orchestra.

Sibelius’ second symphony, his most beloved, balances Romantic grandeur with unmistakably Nordic austerity. Its folk-inflected melodies, at once simple and profound, evoke Finland’s rugged landscapes.

Music director of the Central Aichi Symphony Orchestra, Tsunoda earned recognition in Japan as a dynamic and versatile conductor, bringing fresh energy and remarkable talent to performances with nearly all of the country’s major orchestras.

Tickets: 50-880 yuan

Time: 8 p.m., April 18

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