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izanami
PopStar
Joined: Jan 27, 2004
Posts: 1037
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 Posted:
Dec 03, 2004 - 09:00 AM |
 
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| Post subject: Russian National Orchestra performs! |
This sounds like a really good performance to attend. I'm going if I can get tickets to the event.
A cultural icon from Singapore, violin virtuoso Min Lee, and one of the world's leading orchestras from Russia, are to combine their talents on stage in Shanghai, writes Michelle Qiao.
For its premiere performance in Shanghai on Saturday next week, the renowned Russian National Orchestra will be joined by young Singaporean violinist Min Lee in an all-Russian night of symphonic music.
Conducted by Christian Gansch, the orchestra will present Tchaikovsky's "Violin Concerto" (with Lee as soloist), Shostakovich's "Festival Overture" and Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 4."
"I like completely classical music," says Lee who was making a short visit to Shanghai earlier this week. "I don't like the cross over of musical styles like classical and pop musician Vanessa-Mae. I agree that pop music really is popular but I don't play music that I don't believe in."
The 21-year-old virtuoso has won an extraordinary number of awards and honors in her short career although it should be remembered that she started playing the violin at the age of two and gave her first public performance at the age of five.
"The violin was a birthday gift and my family has almost nothing to do with music," she says. "My parents and sisters are all doctors. My mother is only an amateur violist."
A dramatic change in her life came when Lee was admitted to Yale University's School of Music at the age of 14, where she studied under the eminent violinist Erick Friedman who had been a pupil of the legendary Jascha Heifetz and Nathan Milstein.
"She's a girl that responds very quickly and easy to discipline," says her mother, Annie Lee. "I think it's important to give her the best music masters and the best environment to put music into her blood. Therefore I accompanied her on her studies in the US and Europe. Now she's on her own and there's nothing for me to do for her."
Lee's talent has also been recognized by the government of her native Singapore. The country presented her with a precious violin and regards her as the icon of Singapore's cultural renaissance.
"This 1704 Guarnerius filius Andreas violin has accompanied me for five years," says Lee. "I travel everywhere with the violin. It's a boyfriend that doesn't talk either."
Lee has performed with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in London and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. She is excited to be performing the Tchaikovsky concerto with the Russian National Orchestra because of its reputation for interpreting Russian masterpieces.
The orchestra made its debut in Moscow in November 1990 and on the spot was invited to London to record Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 6" ("Pathetique") for Virgin Classics. Their famous recording, released the following year, received literally unbelievable reviews such as: "Should human beings be able to play like this?" in Britain's Gramophone magazine.
As the first Russian orchestra to perform in the Vatican and in Israel, the RNO maintains an active international tour schedule, appearing regularly in Europe, Asia and the America.
In addition, it is a frequent guest at major festivals, and since 1999 has given an annual concert series in the United States. Popular with radio audiences worldwide, RNO concerts are frequently aired by National Public Radio in the United States and the European Broadcasting Union.
"I do love great composers like Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Bach," says Lee. "But I also like Domingo and operas. I also love fashion - I'm a normal girl in that sense."
Part of the box office takings for the concert will go to Shanghai Children's Health Foundation.
Date: December 11, 7:30pm
Venue: Shanghai Concert Hall, 523 Yan'an Rd E.
Tickets: 100-600 yuan
Tel: 5466-0260, 5466-6818 |
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