Shanghai tunes to the Big Apple

• Source: Global Times
• [11:22 July 13 2010]
• Comments

Shanghai Mayor, Han Zheng, also weighed in on the concert.

"The city of Shanghai is proud and delighted to present its world-class orchestra in New York's Central Park, and the two cities have much in common: both are open to the world and constantly strive for excellence. The international language of music is the perfect medium to express our mutual respect and admiration."

Most of the pieces for this concert are from well-known operas, and the NYP will take the stage first, performing the polonaise from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, Bernstein's symphonic dances from West Side Story, and Ravel's Boléro.

After intermission, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra will play the overture to Wagner's Tannhäuser; arias by Rossini, Gounod and Mozart with soloists Huang Ying, soprano, and Liao Changyong, baritone; Jin Fuzai's Go and See the World; and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with Lang Lang as the soloist.

Both Huang and Liao are acclaimed opera singers. Huang is famous for her portrayal of soprano roles in Mozart's arias, and Liao has worked with many famous orchestras around the world, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.

To the World Expo, a celebratory piece for the 2010 Expo created by Guang Zhao, will also be performed.