David Robertson Conductor (Chen/He)
Yannick Nézet-Séguin Conductor (Tan)
Tan Dun Host
Gil Shaham Violin
Elizabeth Hainen Harp
Program:
Chen and He Butterfly Lovers, concerto for violin and orchestra
Tan Nu Shu: The Secret Songs of Women, Symphony for Microfilms, Harp, and Orchestra
The Orchestra’s Lunar New Year Concert features Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting the premiere recording of Tan Dun’s Nu Shu: The Secret Songs of Women, Symphony for Microfilms, Harp, and Orchestra with Principal Harp Elizabeth Hainen as soloist, as well as David Robertson leading a performance of The Butterfly Lovers, concerto for violin and orchestra, with soloist Gil Shaham. The work by Tan Dun explores the secret Nu Shu language that has been passed on for centuries from mothers to daughters and sisters in the rural Hunan province of China. Tan Dun learned of its existence and inaugurated a multi-year project to help in its documentation and preservation. Co-commissioned by The Philadelphia Orchestra, Japan’s NHK Symphony, and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, this previously unreleased performance was recorded in 2017.
This program runs approximately 1 hour and will be performed without an intermission.
Please note: All Digital Stage events begin with a performance premiere, streaming in real time. Following the performance premiere, this concert will be available for ticket holders to watch on demand for 10 days.
Digital Stage FAQ
Sponsors
The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2021 Lunar New Year Celebration Concert is sponsored by Temple University, with additional support by White and Williams LLP.
The performance of Nu Shu: The Secret Songs of Women was made possible by generous support from:
The Aaron Family Foundation
Aaron B. Cohen
David Gerhold and Yuan Liu
Stuart and Ellin Hirsch
Dr. and Mrs. Frederic H. Honigman
Ken Hutchins
Margarita Montanaro
Lynn and Anthony C. Salvo
Lee F. Shlifer
Mary Sue Welsh
Avram and Rita Woidislawsky
Bin Zhang and Liqun Qian
Lead support for the Digital Stage is provided by:
Claudia and Richard Balderston
Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams, Jr.
The CHG Charitable Trust
The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation
Innisfree Foundation
Gretchen and M. Roy Jackson
Neal W. Krouse
John H. McFadden and Lisa D. Kabnick
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Leslie A. Miller and Richard B. Worley
Ralph W. Muller and Beth B. Johnston
William Penn Foundation
Peter and Mari Shaw
Dr. and Mrs. Joseph B. Townsend
Waterman Trust
Constance and Sankey Williams
Wyncote Foundation