China National Symphony Orchestra

Ihab Darwish

Ya Bahr
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HeZhanhao (1933-)/ Chen Ghang (1935-)

The Butterfly Lovers violin Concerto -30’
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INTERMISSION
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N.Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

Symphonic Suite “Scheherazade” - 52’

  I.The Sea and sindbad’s ship

  II.The Story of Kalendar Prince

  III.The young prince and the young princess

  IV.Festival at Baghdad

China National Symphony Orchestra ‍

Founded in 1956 as the Central Philharmonic Society established in 1956, China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) is directly administered by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China. Its orchestra and chorus rehearse and perform in the Beijing Concert Hall, its permanent home. It is the top Chinese orchestra with remarkable domestic and international presence. As the first Chinese orchestra to have a team of professional composers, CNSO has created more original Chinese scores than any other orchestras in China.

As a state-level art troupe, CNSO has been undertaking the major performances on significant national and diplomatic occasions for more than 60 years, such as G20 2016 China "Enduring Memories of Hangzhou" Symphonic Concert, "Sailing for the Future" Gala for the BRICS Leaders' Meeting in Xiamen, performance for the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, "Boao Forum for Asia", "APEC Summit", "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit" in Qingdao, etc. The outstanding techniques and performances of CNSO's musicians were acclaimed by foreign state leaders and have won the honor for the country, demonstrating the image of a great power.

As a pioneer, promoter and leader in the development of China's symphonic music and choral career, CNSO unremittingly climbs the artistic peaks and makes outstanding contributions to the dissemination and promotion of the world's classical music works. In 1959, CNSO performed Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 for the first time in China and introduced many timeless works by master composers including Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Johann Strauss, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich to the Chinese audience. Furthermore, the orchestra is dedicated to fostering creativity and originality of Chinese music. In 1970, CNSO composed and premiered the piano concerto "Yellow River." In recent years, CNSO has presented widely acclaimed concerts including "Charm of the Chinese Music", ”Charm of the Classics”, "Opera Concert" and "Talents of CNSO", all of which have garnered widespread praise from audiences both at home and abroad.

CNSO is also a dedicated cultural ambassador, as it has activated intercultural dialogues and promoted friendship between China and the world through music during their many international tours. It has performed on various renowned stages, inclulding the Musikverein in Vienna, Berlin Philharmonie, L'Auditori in Barcelona, the Big Hall of the State Kremlin Palace, Symphony Hall of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Lincoln Center in New York City, Symphony Center of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Opera House and Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. In 1974, CNSO visited Japan and gave 20 performances in 18 cities. In 1987, it made a historic tour in the United States, putting on 26 concerts over 42 days in 13 states and 24 cities. In 2002, CNSO was invited to perform in Berlin for the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany, and then went to Spain and Portugal for more than ten concerts. In 2013, invited by Columbia Artists Management Inc, CNSO went to the United States for a commercial tour on an unprecedented scale, presenting 30 symphonic concerts in 29 cities of 16 states over 53 days, with an audience of more than 40,000 people, triggering an unparalleled response across the United States.

CNSO has collaborated with many world-renowned musicians, among whom are maestro conductors Eugene Ormandy, Herbert von Karajan, Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, Seiji Ozawa, Gennadi Rozhestvendsky and Michel Plasson; soloists such as David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Martha Argerich, Fu Cong, Anne Sophie Mutter, Lyu Siqing, Yo-Yo Ma and Lang Lang; and top voices such as José Carreras, Giuseppe Giacomini, Kathleen Battle, and Sumi Jo.

Over the past 60 years, CNSO has been at the forefront of China's symphonic music, and active in connecting China and the world, building bridges of understanding and mutual appreciation through music. Proud of its heritage and commitment to intercultural dialogue, CNSO is always ready to share the best of Chinese music and culture with global audience.

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Jing Huan, Conductor

Standing conductor of the China National Symphony Orchestra | Music Director of Guangzhou Symphony Youth Orchestra | Board member of the China Musicians Association.

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Jing was previously the board member of Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI) . In 2022, she joined with other 9 talented conductors in the National Prime Young Conductors Concert, an important event co-organized by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China, China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and China Musicians Association. Jing graduated from Central Conservatory of Music of China as an outstanding student of Professor Xu Xin, one of China’s top conductors and music education specialist. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting in 2009 at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) under the tutelage of conductor Mark Gibson, and was awarded a full scholarship to continue her doctoral studies. She has worked as Conductor Assistant of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and the orchestra of the CSO’s May Festival. During the same period, she was also Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the Artaria Chamber Orchestra.

In June 2012, Jing was one of two winners at the First Li Delun National Conducting Competition held in Qingdao, China. During the same year, she participated in the Campos do Jordão International Festival in São Paulo, where her outstanding performance led to an invitation by Maestra Marin Alsop to serve as Assistant Conductor of the São Paulo State Symphony’s 2013 music season. Jing and her work with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra attracted the attention of Maestro Long Yu, which led to her appointment at the GSO initially as Resident Conductor in 2014, then Principal Conductor. Since January 2017, she has served as the Secretary-General of the Artistic Committee of Youth Music Culture Guangdong (YMCG) and conducted the opening concert of previous years, receiving praise from YMCG Artistic Committee Chair Long Yu, Artistic Director Yo-Yo Ma, expert and faculty and the audience.

She has worked with many renowned artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang, Rudolf Buchbinder, Vadim Repin, Gil Shaham, Midori, Robert Blocker, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Jian Wang, Lü Siqing, Li-Wei Qin, Zhang Haochen, Chen Sa, Warren Mok, Liao Changyong, Ning Liang and Huang Ying.

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Ning Feng, Violin

Ning Feng is recognised internationally as an artist of great lyricism, innate musicality and stunning virtuosity. He performs across the globe with major orchestras and conductors, and in recital and chamber concerts in some of the most important international series and festivals. The Washington Post has described him as “a wonderful player with a creamy, easy tone and an emotional honesty” and BBC Music Magazine said of a recent recording “silvery tonal purity, immaculate intonation and gently beguiling musicality”.  

Ning Feng has toured Europe, Asia and Australia with Jaap van Zweden and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and has been the soloist on tours of China with many orchestras including the Budapest Festival Orchestra and Iván Fischer, with whom he has performed several times in Budapest, with the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchester and Lawrence Foster, and with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with whom he performs regularly. He has played with the Royal Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony, Hallé, New York Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, National Symphony (Washington), Minnesota, Helsinki Philharmonic, Bilbao Symphony, Bavarian Radio Symphony, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Vienna Radio and Melbourne Symphony orchestras amongst others and in 22/23 madehis debut with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductors  with whom he has worked include Gianandrea Noseda, Marin Alsop, Tugan Sokhiev, VassilyPetrenko, Long Yu, Jia Lv, Muhai Tang, Guoyong Zhang, Yang Yang, Xincao Li, YiZhang, Daye Lin, Yi Huang, etc.

In China, Ning Feng is held in the highest regard, appearing regularly with all the major orchestras, visiting international orchestras and in recital. In 20/21 he was the Artist-in-Residence with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. In 22/23 he returned with collaborations with 9 different orchestras including China Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony, Hangzhou Philharmonic and etc. and opened the season for Qingdao Symphony and Xi’an Symphony. He conducted and played as soloist on the concert with Guangzhou Symphony. In 23/24, he is the Artist-in-Residence for China National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and starts his “Bach Project” presenting Bach’s solo violin works and violin concerti.

Ning performs regularly at London’s Wigmore Hall where he recently performed Bach’s complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin and live-streamed on YouTube. He has performed many times at Kissinger Sommer Festival, and has collaborated with artists including Edgar Moreau, Daniel Müller-Schott, Nicholas Angelich and Igor Levit. In 22/23 he toured in Italy with a solo Paganini programme. In 23/24 Ning tours with Bach’s complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin at the most prestigious venues throughout China, as part of his “Bach Project”.

Ning Feng records for Channel Classics and his most recent album ‘Brahms Violin Sonatas’ with pianist Zee Zee was released in February 2023. His recording of Bach’s complete solo works for violin was hailed by Gramophone as “unlike anyone else’s… it’s the illusion of a freewheeling conversation projected from within that held me captive." His discography also includes concerti by Elgar, Finzi, Tchaikovsky, Bruch (Scottish Fantasy), works for violin and orchestra by Sarasate, Lalo, Ravel and Bizet/Waxman, and with the Dragon Quartet works by Schubert, Dvořák, Borodin, Shostakovich and Weinberg.

Born in Chengdu, China, Ning Feng studied at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music with Weimin Hu, the Hanns Eisler School of Music (Berlin) with Antje Weithaas and the Royal Academy of Music (London) with Hu Kun, where he was the first student ever to be awarded 100% for his final recital. He was awarded as the Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music (FRAM), which is an honor limited to 300 former Academy students who have distinguished themselves within the music profession. The recipient of prizes at the Hanover International, Queen Elisabeth and Yehudi Menuhin International violin competitions, Ning Feng was First Prize winner of the 2005 Michael Hill International Violin Competition (New Zealand), and in 2006 won first prize in the International Paganini Competition.

Ning Feng plays the 1710 Stradivari violin known as the ‘Vieuxtemps Hauser’, by kind arrangement with Premiere Performances of Hong Kong, and plays on strings by Thomastik-Infeld, Vienna.

He lives in Berlin and is a Violin Professor at the Hanns Eisler School of Music (Berlin) and also holds the position of International Chair of Violin at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. In China he serves as the Artistic Director of Chamber Music Academy of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music and the Deputy Dean of Violin Research Institute of Sichuan Conservatory of Music.

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