West and East contemporary music meet at the China Crossing IV concert
Contemporary music from Chinese composer Gao Ping and arrangements of Chinese folk tunes by Associate Professor Michael Norris from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington will be debuted at the fourth annual ‘China Crossing’ concert.
In a challenging year for the performance arts due to the widespread cancellations caused by COVID-19, the University’s New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī (NZSM) and the Confucius Institute at Wellington’s University are excited to present China Crossing IV on Thursday 26 November.
The full programme features performances by Lan Weiwei (pipa), Jian Liu (piano), Martin Riseley (violin), Te Kōkī Trio and the New Zealand String Quartet.
The China Crossing concert series showcases innovative collaborations across New Zealand and Chinese musical traditions.
Gao Ping has strong links with New Zealand, having taught here for several years. For his new work for pipa and piano, the composer and two instrumentalists, Lan Weiwei and Jian Liu, are in Beijing and Wellington—they have blended live and pre-recorded audio to bring this work to life.
There will also be a performance of Gao Ping’s Bitter Cold Night, inspired by the tragic death of Dr Li Wenliang, who first raised a red flag over the seriousness of COVID-19.
As well as the performance of Gao’s works, the concert will see Te Kōkī Trio present a number of colourful folk tunes from ‘Chinese Sights and Sounds’ by Bao Yuankai, arranged by SOUNZ Contemporary Award-winning composer Associate Professor Norris.
And the New Zealand String Quartet will perform ‘Song of the Ch’in’ by Zhou Long, a modern work capturing the essence of special musical gestures associated with the 'ch'in', a Chinese plucked zither from the age of sages and scholars.
China Crossing will take audiences across borders without leaving their seats. Music lovers can now book free tickets on Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/china-crossing-iv-tickets-127393341915
Event details:
China Crossing IV
7 pm, Thursday 26 November
Adam Concert Room, New Zealand School of Music, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington