Organization

Admin

Beijing Music Festival

Conductor

Yifan Sun

Orchestra

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

Instrumentalist

Violinist

Weigang Li

Violin I

Angelo Xiang Yu

Violin II

Violist

Honggang Li

Viola

Cellist

Nicholas Tzavaras

Cello

Strings Galore Shanghai Quartet and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

Beijing

China

Poly Theater

Strings Galore Shanghai Quartet and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra: Fratres Pärt (+3 More)

Public

Fratres

Pulcinella, suite

Grosse Fuge, op. 133

Absolute Jest

Pallavi Pawar

Approved

In recent years, the Shanghai Quartet has often collaborated with the Shanghai Symphony

Orchestra (SSO). Whenever these four veteran musicians assume the roles of guest principals, the

SSO radiates a remarkable aura. The four players with their wonderful stage presence have become

SSO stalwarts; this time, quartet and orchestra appear together on the BMF stage. Stravinsky's

Pulcinella Suite bears testament to how the composer, after creating three outstanding ballets,

continued to transform his musical style, marking the beginning of his neoclassical period. In fact,

Stravinsky once praised the second piece on this program— Beethoven ' s Grosse Fuge —as “the

most absolutely contemporary piece of music I know, and contemporary forever.” Although

Beethoven's complex single-movement work has befuddled listeners for more than two centuries, it

remains all the more appealing to many. The final piece in the program is John Adams's Absolute

Jest, which transports the audience back to our time. This is a concerto for string quartet and

orchestra in which the composer incorporates elements from Beethoven's Grosse Fuge and other

late quartets, injecting them with humor and symbolism. Interestingly, Adams was listening to

Stravinsky's Pulcinella Suite when he was inspired to compose Absolute Jest, bringing everything

full circle.

This is a veritable gathering of old friends at the BMF. The Shanghai Quartet first appeared at the

2001 BMF. In 2013, marking the quartet’s 30th anniversary, they were honored as “Artist of the

Year." Thus 2023 marks more than two decades of friendship, celebrating a generation's pride and

joy.

English

近年来，上海四重奏频繁出现在上海交响乐团的舞台上，每当这四位有着丰富的室内乐与独奏经验的弦乐演奏家在乐团里担任客座首席时，上海交响乐团都会迸发出与往常不同的声音与能量。四位演奏家丰富的经验与强大的气场让他们成为了上海交响乐团的最强助力，如今这对搭档将把这种独特的音质带到北京国际音乐节的舞台。斯特拉文斯基的《普尔钦奈拉》组曲标志着作曲家在接连完成三部杰出的芭蕾舞剧后音乐风格的再次进化，也标志着斯特拉文斯基新古典主义时期的正式开始。关于本场音乐会的第二部作品 —— 贝多芬的《大赋格》，作为 20世纪音乐先驱的斯特拉文斯基曾评价它 “ 永远都会是当代音乐 ” ，这首结构极其复杂的单乐章弦乐四重奏作品虽然令两百年来的聆听者时常觉得无所适从，但也正因为此而散发出致命的吸引力。音乐会的最后，约翰 · 亚当斯的《绝对玩笑》带领听众重回 21世纪，这是一部为弦乐四重奏所作的协奏曲，作曲家将包括《大赋格》在内的多首贝多芬晚期弦乐四重奏中的音乐素材运用于其中，玩笑与隐喻遍布其中。有趣的是，亚当斯是在聆听斯特拉文斯基的《普尔钦奈拉》时产生了创作这部作品的灵感，整场音乐会因此变成了一个绝妙的轮回。 本场音乐会还将是老友在北京国际音乐节的聚会。 2001年上海四重奏首度登台北京国际音乐节，2013年三十岁的上海四重奏在北京国际音乐节登台并获得第十六届北京国际音乐节“年度艺术家”称号。2023年再度相聚舞台，超过二十年的深厚友谊，打造一代音乐人的骄傲 。

中文

Strings Galore Shanghai Quartet and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra by Pärt, Stravinsky, Beethoven, Adams, From (2023/2023), Conductor Yifan Sun, Poly Theater, Beijing, China

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Ensemble

Programme, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues