On the eve of Chinese New Year, on February 14 at 7:00 p.m., the Fabergé Museum invites you to a concert of Chinese romances, "A Walk in the Snow in Search of Blooming Plum" — a musical journey through time and space, into the very heart of Chinese poetry and music.
The concert will feature soloists and musicians of the Russian-Chinese Symphony Orchestra under the direction of artistic director Victoria Dobrovolskaya, with Peng Yinlai as guest narrator.
The concert program begins at the origins of Chinese civilization, with the pure and sublime lines of the "Book of Songs" ("Shijing"): the mysterious "Song of the Yue Boatman", the noble "Guan Ju" ("The Bride's Welcome"), and the longing for the unattainable in "There, Beyond the River." We will trace how the theme of love runs like a silk thread through the centuries: from the epic story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, embodied in the famous violin concerto, to the steppe freedom of the northern "Song of Chile" and the joy in nature in "Searching for Flowers Alone Along the River" on verses by Du Fu.
The melodies will lead us across the vast country: from the fiery rhythms of the Uyghur "My Love Is Like Wine" from Xinjiang to the tender maternal love in the "Lullaby of the Northeast" and the crystal-clear fragrance of "Jasmine" from Jiangsu. We will hear how the philosophical melancholy of Su Shi in "When the Moon Shines" gives way to the bright colors of the "Lantern Festival" in music on verses by Xin Qiji, while the open passion of the aria on verses from the Yuan Dynasty, "Joy of Love," flows into the intimate lyrical confessions of the 20th century — "The Bridge", "Three Wishes of a Rose", and the immortal "Teach Me How Not to Think of Her?"
The concert "A Walk in the Snow in Search of Blooming Plum" is an immersion in history embodied in music. It is a hymn to Love in all its manifestations: the anticipation of love, devotion, homesickness and admiration for nature, passion and tenderness. May the ancient lines and eternal melodies tell you their story on this magical evening that unites East and West — a story which, like true love, knows no bounds.
6:00 p.m. — guest reception and tour of the main exhibition of the Fabergé Museum.
7:00 p.m. — concert begins.
Concert program:
Part 1
- Liu Qing "Song of the Yue Boatman"
- Huang Zi "A Walk in the Snow in Search of Blooming Plum"
- Zhao Jiping "Guan Ju" ("The Bride's Welcome")
- Lin Jiaqing "There, Beyond the River"
- He Zhanhao, Chen Gang Violin Concerto "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai" ("Butterfly Lovers"), finale
- Liu Zhou "Song of Chile"
- Li Yan "Searching for Flowers Alone Along the River"
- Zhou Xianglin "My Love Is Like Wine," Uyghur folk song
Part 2
- Zheng Jianchun "Lullaby," folk song of Northeast China
- "Jasmine Flower," folk song of Jiangsu Province, arranged for violin and piano
- Lu Zaiyi "To the Tune of Shuidiao Getou: When the Moon Shines"
- Li Yan "To the Tune of Qingyu'an: Lantern Festival"
- Gao Weijie "To the Tune of Hongxuese: Joy of Love"
- Lu Zaiyi "The Bridge"
- Huang Zi "Three Wishes of a Rose"
- Zhao Yuanren "Teach Me How Not to Think of Her"
- Zhou Xinquan, John P. Ordway "Farewell at the South of the City"