East meets West when the Shanghai Quartet returns
Posted: Sun Jun 5, 2005 11:07 am

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Described by international media as musicians who give "the kind of performance composers dream of", chamber music superstars the Shanghai Quartet return to New Zealand in June. The quartet will present an 'East meets West' fusion of Chinese and Western music as part of Chamber Music New Zealand's 2005 season.

The members of the group are three quarters Chinese and one quarter American. Since their last visit in 1998, they have welcomed a new cellist, Nicholas Tzavaras. Nicholas's mother's East Harlem Violin Project was dramatised in the 1999 film "Music of the Heart", featuring Meryl Streep, Gloria Estefan and Angela Bassett.

This is not the first time the quartet have dabbled in the film industry. In 1979 violinist Weigang Li appeared in the Academy Award-winning documentary "From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China". The quartet also make an appearance in the latest Woody Allen film "Melinda and Melinda", to be released in New Zealand later this year.

The Shanghai Quartet are known worldwide for their passionate musicality and multicultural innovation. The group's concerts will feature works by Shostakovich, Brahms and Beethoven alongside Chinese folk songs. Second violinist, Yi-Wen Jiang has arranged Chinese melodies, titled ChinaSong, which reflect his childhood memories of the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966 – 1976),

"Through music, Chinese people always seemed able to find, and express their own happiness, sorrow, love, hope and things to cherish. I grew up with many of these pieces, and played some of them as solo works for violin and piano during the difficult days of the Cultural Revolution. The melodies are so beautiful and quite moving", says Yi-Wen. "I tried to blend the simplicity of an eastern melody with the complex, lush sounds of the string quartet, with the intent that Chinese music can be thoroughly enjoyed and performed internationally."

There will also be a rare opportunity to see the musicians working with some of New Zealand’s finest musicians when the quartet give masterclasses in Wellington. The masterclasses will be held at the Hunter Council Chamber at Victoria University of Wellington on Sunday 19 June at 6pm. Entry is $10.

The quartet have fond memories of their last visit to New Zealand and are looking forward to returning. "New Zealand was truly one of the most beautiful places the quartet has toured in the last 21 years and we have been touring in about twenty countries", says Yi-Wen. "Fantastic landscape, great food and warm people ... New Zealand is one of my favourite countries to visit and play concerts."

Chamber Music New Zealand acknowledges major funding from Creative New Zealand.

RE: East meets West when the Shanghai Quartet returns
Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 12:48 pm

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