“East Meets West” at LSO St Luke’s
Li-Wei Qin × London Symphony Orchestra
July 6, 2022 · LSO St Luke’s, London
Overview
On July 6, 2022, internationally acclaimed cellist Li-Wei Qin joined the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of British conductor Lee Reynolds for a special concert titled “East Meets West”, held at LSO St Luke’s, the orchestra’s celebrated music education and chamber performance venue.
The program bridged Eastern and Western sound worlds — from Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings and Haydn’s First Cello Concerto, to contemporary works by Chinese composers Ye Xiaogang and Yao Enhui. Through this dialogue of musical traditions, the concert offered an inspiring exploration of how lyricism, form, and emotion transcend cultural boundaries.
Program
The concert’s repertoire highlighted cultural synthesis through sound:
- Ye Xiaogang’s “Poem from China”, a lyrical reflection of Chinese aesthetics and Western modernism.
- Yao Enhui’s “Butterflies” and “Black Turns to White”, both marked by delicate orchestration and poetic imagery, the former receiving its London premiere.
- Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, radiant in its emotional warmth and structural elegance, bookending the evening with its first and final movements.
- Haydn’s C Major Cello Concerto, performed by Li-Wei Qin with clarity and vitality, representing the Classical heart of the programme.
Ye Xiaogang — Poem from China, for Cello and Piano
Tchaikovsky — Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op.48 (I. and IV. movements)
Haydn — Cello Concerto No.1 in C Major, Hob.VIIb:1 (I. Allegro moderato)
Yao Enhui — Butterflies (London Premiere)
Yao Enhui — Black Turns to White
Tchaikovsky — Serenade for Strings (Finale: IV. Tema Russo — Andante — Allegro con spirito)
Flute: Gareth Davies
Strings: London Symphony Orchestra
Together, these works painted a vivid picture of musical dialogue — East and West in harmony.
East and West in harmony
Artists
Li-Wei Qin · Cello
“Li-Wei Qin possesses a ravishingly beautiful tone, flawless intonation, and ironclad technique.”
— The New York Times
One of the foremost cellists of his generation, Li-Wei Qin has appeared with leading orchestras including the London Symphony, BBC Symphony, Singapore Symphony, Melbourne Symphony, and Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra, under conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir Andrew Davis, Long Yu, and Lü Jia.
A laureate of both the Tchaikovsky International Competition and the Naumburg Competition, Qin records for Decca and Sony Classical, and serves as Professor of Cello at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory (National University of Singapore).
Lee Reynolds · Conductor
Described by the BBC as “one of the most dynamic and imaginative British conductors of his generation,” Lee Reynolds has earned an outstanding reputation for both symphonic and opera repertoire.
He has conducted ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, and Philharmonia Orchestra, as well as major opera companies such as English National Opera and Opera North.
Renowned for his adventurous programming and clear, expressive conducting style, Reynolds is also Principal Conductor of Sinfonia Humanitas, and has led numerous premieres of contemporary works by British and international composers.
London Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1904, the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is one of the world’s most prestigious symphonic ensembles and a cornerstone of British musical life.
Based at the Barbican Centre, the LSO performs globally and records extensively for major labels. Its members are also deeply engaged in education and outreach through LSO Discovery, headquartered at LSO St Luke’s — a beautifully restored 18th-century church transformed into an award-winning concert space and creative hub.
The orchestra’s long-standing collaborations with legendary conductors — from Sir Colin Davis to Sir Simon Rattle — have defined modern orchestral performance and continue to inspire new generations of musicians worldwide.