49th Orchestral Season

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12
September 2025
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Meet the Performers
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Fang JinLong
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Akiko Kubota
Giannis Koutis

Giannis Koutis
Zhang Ying

Zhang Ying
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Wang YouDi
Qin Jitao

Qin Jitao
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Ma Wai Him
Sun Yongzhi

Sun Yongzhi

The 49th Orchestral Season Opening Concert
Silken Notes of the Pipa

2025 China National Arts Fund Stage Art Creation Fund Project
China Welfare Lottery and China Sports Lottery Public Welfare Funds

China Taiping Insurance (HK) Company Limited Proudly Supports

One of the Programmes of Chinese Culture Festival 2025 and Asia+ Festival 2025

This Silken Notes of the Pipa concert is supported by the Belt and Road Office of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau.

One Belt One Road Arts and Culture Strategic Partner-The Education University of Hong Kong

Date and Time
12-13/9/2025 (Fri,Sat) 8:00pm
Venue
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
Ticket Fee
$450, $350, $300, $250
Conductor
Yan Huichang
Performed by
Five-string pipa : Fang Jinlong
Satsuma-biwa : Akiko Kubota
Oud : Giannis Koutis
Four-string pipa : Zhang Ying
Guqin : Wang Youdi
Guan : Qin Jitao
Duduk : Ma Wai-him
Shakuhachi : Sun Yongzhi

    Supporting Organisation:

 
     
Title Sponsor: One Belt One Road Arts and Culture Strategic Partner:  
   


This concert marks the Orchestra’s second project selected by the prestigious National Arts Fund StageArt Creation Fund Project—following Trail of the Blue Dragon—and it is also a major programme of the Chinese Culture Festival 2025 and Asia+ Festival 2025.


Inspired by the Silk Road, this concert focuses on the pipa, the foremost plucked string instrument where similar forms have been found across different regions that eloquently recount the histories and stories of their lands.


Throughout history, plucked string instruments played in a “cradled” position have flourished across diverse cultural landscapes, giving rise to a burgeoning musical repertoire that communicates the sights and sounds of different locales. This Chinese orchestral suite is structured in seven movements, highlighting the expressive qualities and tonal characteristics of the five-stringed and four-stringed pipa of China, the satsuma-biwa and shakuhachi of Japan and the oud of Turkey respectively. Together they weave a colourful musical tapestry tracing back to the cultural heritage of the Silk Road.

Programmes

Movement I: Riding the Winds and Breaking the Waves (Prelude)

Chinese Orchestra   Riding the Winds and Breaking the Waves   Chan Ming-chi


Movement II: Literary – The Beautiful Jade and The Mythical Bird from the Classic of Poetry

Five-string Pipa and Chinese Orchestra   The Beautiful Jade   Chan Ming-chi

Five-string Pipa and Chinese Orchestra   The Mythical Bird   Chan Ming-chi

Five-string Pipa: Fang Jinlong


Movement III: Martial – King Chu Doffs His Armour

Four-string Pipa and Chinese Orchestra   King Chu Doffs His Armour  Ancient Tune

Four-string Pipa: Zhang Ying


Movement IV: A Gentle Breeze (Interlude)

Guqin, Guan, Duduk and Chinese Orchestra   A Gentle Breeze   Chan Ming-chi

Guqin: Wang Youdi Guan:  Duduk: Ma Wai Him 


Movement V: Heroic Spirit – Heart of the Ocean

Satsuma-biwa, Shakuhachi and Chinese Orchestra   Heart of the Ocean   Chan Ming-chi

Satsuma-biwa: Akiko Kubota, Shakuhachi, Chinese Di: Sun Yongzhi 


Movement VI: Exceptional – Serene Symphonic Poem

Oud and Chinese Orchestra   Serene Symphonic Poem    Gazi Giray Han “Tatar”, Chan Ming-chi

Oud: Giannis Koutis


Movement VII: Sailing Across the Vast Ocean (Postlude)

Four-string Pipa, Five-string Pipa, Satsuma-biwa, Oud and Chinese Orchestra   Sailing Across the Vast Ocean  Chan Ming-chi

Four-string Pipa: Zhang Ying, Five-string Pipa: Fang Jinlong, Satsuma-biwa: Akiko Kubota, Oud: Giannis Koutis


Duration： Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, without intermission.

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