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Feast for the ears

By Chen Jie (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-09 13:29

Before the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) opened nearly two years ago, the capital's classical music fans relied on Beijing Music Festival (BMF) to showcase the world's best soloists and orchestras every October.

NCPA has shaken BMF's dominance by putting on quality concerts throughout the year, including an opera festival in spring, the summer concert series Roam About Classics and the Beijing edition of Claudio Abbado's Lucerne Festival in autumn.

At the same time the world's best-known artists and orchestras have queued up to perform at the newly opened "Bubble" next to the Great Hall of the People, west of Tian'anmen Square.

This has caused problems for BMF. For example, the rising Chinese pianist Yuja Wang canceled her contract to play a concert at this year's BMF, in order to play with Abbado and his Lucerne Festival Orchestra at the NCPA in September.

The competition, however, is good news for concert-goers. It means both organizations have to create more appetizing dishes to attract audiences. The program of the 12th Beijing Music Festival, which raises its curtain on Saturday, is therefore a feast for music fans.

Beijing Music Festival will raise its curtain on Oct 10, featuring world-renowned musicians like violinist Pinchas Zukerman.

This year's opening show is the China premiere of Verdi's opera Macbeth, jointly produced by Savonlinna Opera Festival, BMF and Shanghai Opera House. There are two shows at Poly Theater, on Oct 10 and 11.

From the first week-long festival held at Olavinlinna Castle, Finland, in 1912, the Savonlinna Opera Festival has grown into an internationally recognized musical extravaganza that lasts a month. Every year it stages classical repertoires that include its own productions to about 60,000 people.

Macbeth essentially lives or dies on the strength of its two principal characters: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The baritone Michele Kalmadi, as Macbeth, has tremendous authority and stature. In the female role, soprano Cynthia Makris is an attractive figure who hits all the right notes.

Well-known soloists to perform at this year's BMF include artists from three generations. These include 81-year-old pianist Gary Graffman, the former president of Curtis Institute of Music, whose students include Lang Lang, Yuja Wang and Zhang Haochen (who won the Golden Medal at the Van Cliburn Piano Competition in the United States in June). Also appearing will be Pinchas Zukerman, Midori, Sarah Chang, cellist Misha Maisky, and the 19-year-old pianist Behzod Abduraimov.

Other highlights will be foremost contemporary US music group Bang on a Can; Sydney Symphony with its new principal conductor and artistic director Vladimir Ashkenazy; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, one of the best chamber ensembles in the world, and the Boys Choir of Kenya, which performed at US President Barack Obama's inauguration.

The closing concert at Poly Theater, on Oct 30, traces the 30-year development of classical music in China.

In 1979, violinist Isaac Stern was the first Western soloist to perform publicly in China after the "cultural revolution" (1966-76). Stern collaborated with China Central Symphony Society (now China National Symphony Orchestra) to put on Mozart's Violin Concerto in G Major under the baton of conductor Li Delun.

Stern also visited the Central Conservatory of Music, where he gave a lecture to students, including young violinist Vera Tsu Weiling, cellist Wang Jian and pianist Pan Chun. Stern's trip to China was filmed by Murray Lerner and developed into a documentary called From Mao to Mozart. In 1980, it won the Academy Award for documentary feature.

Stern and Li have passed away, but classical music is thriving in China. Fittingly, Tsu, Wang and Pan will take part in the closing concert, along with other stars and the China Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Stern's son, David.

In addition, the three-week BMF will offer free concerts, children's concerts, educational programs and other outreach activities.