Li-Wei Qin × Feng Ning
“Battle of Strings: The Duel of Two Masters”
Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra · Conducted by Jiang Liu
July 31, 2016 · Chengdu Arts City · Rose Hall
Overview
Titled “Battle of Strings: The Duel of Two Masters”, this concert united two of China’s most acclaimed string soloists — violinist Feng Ning and cellist Li-Wei Qin — with the Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Jiang Liu.
From Butterfly Lovers to Dvořák, and from Ravel’s Tzigane to The Godfather, the program fused Eastern lyricism with Western virtuosity. It showcased the dialogue and contrast between two instruments — one bright and fiery, the other warm and resonant — culminating in a powerful musical encounter that captivated Chengdu audiences.
Program
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975)
Festival Overture
He Zhanhao & Chen Gang
Butterfly Lovers (Excerpt)
Violin: Feng Ning
Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op.104 – I. Allegro
Cello: Li-Wei Qin
Jules Massenet (1842–1912)
Méditation from Thaïs
Violin: Feng Ning
Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924)
Sicilienne, Op.78
Cello: Li-Wei Qin
Traditional, arr. Xiang Ao
Londonderry Air
Violin & Cello Duo: Feng Ning · Li-Wei Qin
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Marche Slave, Op.31
Program
Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
Cello Concerto in C Major, Hob.VIIb:1 – III. Allegro
Cello: Li-Wei Qin
Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)
Tzigane
Violin: Feng Ning
Nino Rota & Francis Ford Coppola, arr. Xiang Ao
The Godfather
Violin & Cello Duo: Feng Ning · Li-Wei Qin
Pablo de Sarasate, arr. Yao Hu
Zigeunerweisen, Op.20
Violin & Cello Duo: Feng Ning · Li-Wei Qin
Qiufeng Zheng, arr. Shizhe Wang
I Love You, China
Violin & Cello Duo: Feng Ning · Li-Wei Qin
Artists
Li-Wei Qin · Cello
Praised by The New York Times for his “ravishingly beautiful tone, flawless intonation, and ironclad technique,” Li-Wei Qin is one of the world’s leading cellists.
A laureate of both the Tchaikovsky International Competition and the Naumburg Competition, he has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the London Symphony, BBC Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, China Philharmonic, and Melbourne Symphony.
He records for Decca and Sony Classical, and serves as Professor of Cello at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory (National University of Singapore). His artistry combines emotional depth, technical mastery, and profound musical integrity.
Feng Ning · Violin
Winner of the 2006 Paganini International Violin Competition, Feng Ning is celebrated as one of China’s foremost violinists.
Born in Chengdu, he studied at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music and later at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he became the first student in the Academy’s history to receive full marks for his graduation recital.
Feng Ning has won top prizes at the Queen Elisabeth, Hannover, and Yehudi Menuhin International Competitions. His recordings with Channel Classics include Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, and the acclaimed 2016 album Passion, featuring works by Sarasate, Lalo, Ravel, and Waxman.
He performs on a 1721 “MacMillan” Stradivarius violin, kindly loaned from a private collection.
Jiang Liu · Conductor
Dr. Jiang Liu is a distinguished Chinese-American conductor known for his passionate yet disciplined musicianship and refined sense of orchestral color.
A recipient of the Aspen Music Festival Conducting Award and the National Musician Association Performance Prize, he has studied under maestros David Zinman and Tom Hostadt, and guest-conducted numerous orchestras across the United States and China.
He currently serves as Chief Conductor of the Miami Symphony Orchestra, Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Dayton, and Artistic Director of the Sichuan Conservatory Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra
Established in 1973, the Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra is part of the Sichuan Radio and Television Group and is one of Southwest China’s most active professional orchestras.
The orchestra has recorded scores for hundreds of films and television series, premiered numerous contemporary Chinese and international works, and presents over one hundred performances annually.
Its repertoire spans from Baroque and Classical masterpieces to new commissions, reflecting both artistic versatility and cultural commitment.