Lunar New Year Concert 2024
The Lunar New Year Concert 2024 - Chang’an in the Fantasy World a musical celebration of the Year of the Dragon. The unique concert features ten outstanding young performers from the Xi'an Song and Dance Theater, forming an innovative ensemble with its own halo. You will see a brand-new way of performance, which is a kind of musical storytelling, emotional visualization, and vivid expression of instrumental performance.
Fri 23 Feb 2024, 7:30 PM
City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Place Sydney
Set against the backdrop of the historical tales of Chang'an in China, this production incorporates traditional Chinese musical instruments such as pipa, guzheng, erhu, and more. Structured into distinct chapters, each marked by unique styles, intentions, and innovative segments, the creative team draws inspiration from the distinctive cultural heritage of Shaanxi. With a fusion of compelling stage concepts and contemporary artistic expressions and various costumes, the performance promises to captivate audiences.
As the annual featured event in the Happy Chinese New Year in Sydney initiated by Ausfeng Events and China Cultural Centre in Sydney since 2014, the concert will showcase diverse creativities and illuminate the depth and breadth of cultural celebrations.
The concert is part of Sydney Lunar Festival 2024 - the year of the dragon not to be missed.
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Prologue
If We Meet Again
Recitation: In the Right Teaching Hall of Chang’an, musicians and dancers of all ethnic groups often gather here to exchange and practise their techniques. During the Lantern Festival, they tell their stories with music, and then the harmonious sound of various instruments comes out from the Right Teaching Hall …
Maid Figure
Recitation: A lady fair lives in the north China. She stands alone out of nowhere. With one glance, her beauty tops a town, and another, the whole country …
Wolf
Recitation: A wolf is a model, a wolf is a master, a wolf is the protector of the grassland, and the fighting God of herdsman, a wolf is the totem …
Interlude
The Veil
Recitation: The caravan from Chang’an marches forward along with the camel bells. With odd news, strange things, beautiful scenery, and hardships, what waits for them under the mysterious veil is the unknown western regions …
To the West
Recitation: Herdsmen ride their horses and sing freely on the broad grassland. At night, the owner of the grassland and tourists from the east play the musical instruments around the campfire under the starry sky and celebrate their gathering …
Tz'u Le Plains
Recitation: The blue sky, the broad land, the high and towering Yinshan Mountains, the cattle and sheep, my friend far away, here is my home …
Rage
Recitation: Unceasing flames of war burn the hand drum, and thick clouds shadow the green pas- ture. Listen, that’s the rage of the grassland …
Interlude
Amusement
Recitation: Fine wine in glasses, fruits on the ground, I will not ask where you are from, and I need no words from you. At this moment, let’s drink and sing merrily …
The Faraway Land
Recitation: On the long way to Chang’an in the east, there will be dangers around. When a wondering female musician meets a Mongolian warrior in danger, what will happen to them …
Sogdian Whirl
Recitation: The girl dances the Sogdian Whirl, with mind following the melody, and hands playing the drum. She holds up her hands while beating the drum, and keeps dancing in the snow …
Under the Moon
Recitation: Let’s beat the drum and dance together, forget the worries and loneliness. No matter you are from home or abroad, west or east, we share the same moon. Now we are together, let’s celebrate this moment …
Sleep Tight
Recitation: Sleep, and sleep tight, it’s the best wish. In the sweet dream, you are sitting around the campfire in mom’s arms. The grassland is the hometown that you miss so much …
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Wang Lei - Band Director
Liu Mu - Guzheng
Zhao Weichao - Percussion
Er Denbayar - Morin khuur
Liu Sanhu - Wind instrument
Li Shuting - Wind instrument
Xu Hao - Bass
Ma Ruiying - Pipa
Jiang Yi - Erhu
Li Ying - Singer
