Shanghai Concert Hall's "Family Concert" program offers a series of performances especially tailored for children and their parents. Photo: Courtesy of Shanghai Concert Hall

A new audience has been heading to the Shanghai Concert Hall's regular "Lunchtime Concert" program. They are neither the older classical music devotees nor the young office workers that usually attend concerts. Nowadays the lunchtime concerts are the haunt of groups of lao ayi, local retired middle-aged women and housewives, who are not usually regarded as classical music enthusiasts.

Fang Jing, the deputy manager of the Shanghai Concert Hall (SCH), told the Global Times that the new music fans were a great addition to the regular concertgoers.

"They are welcome just the same as any other kind of audience," she said. "What the SCH is doing now is trying to break through the old approaches to classical music. We want people of all ages and types to plunge into music, not just classical music, so it becomes part of their lives."

The weekday lunchtime concerts at the hall began in January 2012 from noon until 1 pm, people can enjoy fine music along with a cup of tea for just 10 yuan ($1.63).

Music for everyone

Two years ago, the SCH changed its philosophy of being "a temple of classical music" to being a venue offering music for everyone. Its coming season of music, which begins on September 17 and runs through to July 2014, is designed to reflect the new approach.

"We believe this way is the only way for the survival and development of classical music today," Fang said.

In the new season, more than 30 leading soloists and ensembles from China and abroad will be offering more than 300 performances at the SCH.

"This season we are trying to embrace more diversified music and genres and also younger musical talent to engage a wider and more age-varied audience." Fang said.

As well as the lunchtime events, the SCH has another popular project "Family Concert," which was launched at the beginning of 2013 and will be expanded.

Once a month on a Sunday, the Family Concert offers a series of performances with programs especially tailored for children and their parents, providing an informal environment for families to learn about and enjoy music together.

The SCH's "Inspiring Young Talent" program has been running for several years, focusing on young musicians and giving them opportunities for performing in public. In the new season, the program has been expanded to include performers of traditional Chinese music.

Shen Yanshu, the director of public relations at the SCH, told the Global Times that crossover music and events are very popular internationally. "So throughout our new season, we also want to present the latest approaches to classical music to Chinese audiences."

Igudesman & Joo Photo: Courtesy of Shanghai Concert Hall

Harmonica harmony

On October 29, the SCH will welcome for the first time the Adler Trio from Israel. Hailed as the world's leading harmonica trio, their repertoire covers an enormous range of music genres, classical, pop, soul, country and traditional Jewish folk music - all created with just their harmonicas.

In Shanghai, their program will include a medley of Hasidic music and arrangements of the Chinese songs, "Rose Rose, I Love You," and "Blooming Flowers and Full Moon," (huahaoyueyuan)

The French group, the Swingle Singers, is one of the most famous a capella singing groups in the world and has been making music since 1962.

On Christmas Eve this year, the group will bring its unique crossover vocal blendings of classical, jazz, popular and folk music to the SCH, reworking the works of Bach, Debussy and Piazzolla for a Christmas concert in Shanghai. 

Looking at the publicity pictures of Igudesman & Joo, you might get the impression that they are two hackers from The Matrix films - they wear dark suits, dark glasses and look mysterious.

But in fact, they are two classical musicians who have developed one of the world's most acclaimed comedy music acts. Calling themselves the "Classics Crackers," they have delighted audiences all over the world with their radical approach to music.

Aleksey Igudesman is a Russian violinist, composer and conductor and Richard Hyung-ki Joo is a British-Korean pianist and composer. They met in Britain when they were 12 years old at the Yehudi Menuhin School and have remained friends and partners ever since.

Inspired by comedic musicians like Victor Borge and Dudley Moore, they have brought their own sense of humor and music to concert platforms around the world, appearing with leading orchestras and winning support from some of the most famous names in music. Their show, A Little Nightmare Music, will play in Shanghai on October 10.

Lighthearted

The Quintetto Bislacco also takes a lighthearted approach to the classics as it offers music without boundaries. The five members of the group, who are also leading musicians with major Italian orchestras, use their instruments, two violins, a viola, a cello and a double bass, along with their Italian style of comedy to give audiences a new and cheering look at music.

It's a joke and not a joke that they will perform in Shanghai on April 1, 2014.

Local performers from the Shanghai International Guitar Club will present a Flamenco and Guitar Virtuoso Evening on December 5 alongside flamenco artists from Spain in a unique collaboration.

On Valentine's Day, the SCH will stage a romantic experiment, Romance, Ballet and Piano, where dancers will be accompanied by a piano trio.

One of the highlights next year will be the SCH's Jazz Festival which runs throughout July in 2014. Different styles of jazz will be featured throughout the festival and the performers include the Natasha Rogers Quartet, the Franz von Chossy Quintet from the Netherlands, The Voice Messengers from France, and Kellylee Evans from Canada.

Shen said they would be inviting the musicians to hold workshops during the festival.

Pinchas Zukerman Photo: Courtesy of Shanghai Concert Hall

Jörg Demus Photo: Courtesy of Shanghai Concert Hall

Magdalena Kožená Photo: Courtesy of Shanghai Concert Hall

More masters

Along with the new and different styles of music, the SCH will of course be bringing the music of the masters to Shanghai.

As the opening performance of the new season, the Brazilian guitarist Marco Pereira will perform with his trio on September 17. Pereira was born in Sao Paulo in 1956, learned guitar from the Uruguayan master, Isaias Sávio and studied at the Music and Drama Conservatory of São Paulo. In their first appearance ever in Shanghai, Pereira, accordion virtuoso, Bebe Kramer and bassist, Guto Wirtti, will recreate the music of Brazil from the 1950s.

There is no doubt that Shanghai audiences love and appreciate great musicians. On July 14, 2013, the great Hungarian pianist and conductor András Schiff, was called back for an unprecedented nine encores after his concert.

One of the hot ticket concerts for the new season will be the appearance of the 85-year old Austrian maestro, Jörg Demus. He was studying piano and conducting when he was only 11 years old at the Vienna Academy of Music, and made his debut as a soloist at the age of 14 for the prestigious Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna.

Recognized as a great interpreter of Bach, Debussy and César Franck, Demus' Shanghai concert will include works by Bach, Beethoven and Schumann.

One of the greatest international musicians, Pinchas Zukerman will bring Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra to Shanghai for a concert on October 19.

"Although Zukerman has performed in China several times, this concert will be very special," Shen told the Global Times. This time he will conduct the orchestra in John Estacio's Brio:Toccata and Fantasy for Orchestra, Brahm's Second Symphony and will play and conduct in the Bruch's Violin Concerto.

Violin enthusiasts will also delight in the concerts of Leonidas Kavakos on March 16 and Alexander Tharaud on May 31.

The distinctive voice of the glamorous Czech mezzo-soprano, Magdalena Kožená was once described by The Independent newspaper, as a type of voice "that composers all too often relegate to the roles of sisters, young boys and mothers-in-law." But being a mezzo-soprano has not at all deterred this spirited singer and Shanghai will catch some of her range when she performs a concert of renaissance music with the viol consort group, Private Musicke, on November 8, 2013.

Shanghai soprano, Qiu Shuwei, who is also the professor of singing at the Shanghai Conservatory of Paris, will present her romantic Chanson & Poem concert on January 17, with a program of French songs ranging from Gounod's "Serenade," and Ravel's "La Flute Enchantee," to some Edith Piaf favorites.

The Chinese-born cellist, Wang Jian will also feature in performances of the complete Bach unaccompanied cello suites on November 14 and 15 - which is also one of the highlight events of the 15th Shanghai International Arts Festival which will run from October 18 to November 18.

A tradition

As the home of music in Shanghai for more than 80 years, the SCH has now established its own New Year tradition - for 10 years now the Wiener Johann Strauss Capelle's New Year's concert has been welcoming in the New Year. Fang said, "This year will be the 10th anniversary for Wiener Johann Strauss Capelle in Shanghai. Because of them, many people in Shanghai now have the New Year concert habit."

On March 2, audiences in Shanghai will go on to be treated to a concert by one of the leading period instrument ensembles in Europe. For five years the SCH has presented a leading period instrument ensemble and this year the Berliner Barock Solisten will perform. This orchestra has won acclaim for its unique interpretations of music from the 17th and 18th centuries.

For ticket details check: 

www.shanghaiconcerthall.org/order/index.asp

or call 400-891-8182.