Upcoming Programme
Yu Yuanchun Pipa Recital
Pipa virtuoso Yu Yuanchun is recognized as one of today’s most active performers of Chinese traditional music on the international stage. She is the first pipa doctoral graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music, Grand Prize winner of the CCTV National Instrumental Music Competition, and a UNESCO-designated Artist.
Programme
Not Only the Ancient Tunes
Yuanchun Yu and Musicians · Chamber Music Concert
Rooted in the pipa’s rich traditional art, this chamber music project explores the intersections of past and present, East and West — combining Chinese traditional instruments with piano and percussion, and blending cultural heritage with modern expression.
Performers
- Pipa: Yuanchun Yu
- Dizi/Xiao: Xiaokui Ding
- Piano: Dawei Qu
- Percussion: Yu Zheng
- Erhu: Zitong Wang
- Guzheng: Yuxuan Zhang
Program
To be announced
The Four Seasons of Life
Yu Yuanchun Pipa Quartet Concert
At the heart of this concert is The Four Seasons, a new work for pipa quartet by young composer Jing Sun. Inspired by the traditional cycle of “Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring,” the piece reflects the humanistic spirit and closeness to nature found in Chinese traditional music. Blending heritage with contemporary compositional techniques, it explores a wide range of pipa performance practices, opening new possibilities for modern ensemble writing for the instrument.
In addition to this centerpiece, the program features beloved classics of the pipa repertoire alongside solo and ensemble works in diverse forms. Through these performances, the pipa — an ancient instrument with a history spanning millennia — is brought vividly into the present, embodying both the vitality of contemporary life and the cultural depth of China’s civilization.
The Dual Spirit of Literary and Martial Talents
Yuanchun Yu Pipa Recital
This recital by pipa virtuoso Yu Yuanchun spans centuries and cultures, bringing together traditional repertoire, contemporary works, and cross-cultural innovations. The program juxtaposes ancient martial and lyrical narratives with modern creative expression, exploring new possibilities for the pipa in today’s world.
Highlights include the traditional classics Chen Sui and Chu Han; the jazz-infused Guessing Tune; the contemporary masterpiece Clouds Imagine · Flowers Imagine; the theatrical Guan Yu; and the cross-cultural Silent Strings, inspired by Indian traditions. The concert also features the modern concerto Balance of Civil and Martial, composed on the same theme, alongside Yu’s own creation The An-Shi Rebellion.
More than a recital, this program integrates “civil” and “martial” thinking into both traditional and contemporary contexts, offering a new perspective for the inheritance and innovation of pipa music.