Release Date: 04 January 2004
Label: Naxos - Nxc / Naxos Classics
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 747313234820
Genres: Classical
Composer/Series: CHEN / HE
Description
Chen Gang (b.1935) and He Zhanhao (b.1933)The Butterfly Lovers Violin ConcertoThe Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto was written in 1959 byChen Gang, one of the leading composers in contemporary China, and hisfellow-student He Zhanhao, whose works have won similar fame. The two composerswere still students at the Shanghai Conservatory at the time when theysucceeded in creating one of the best known of all contemporary Chinesecompositions. The concerto follows an ancient legend that has served as thebasis for a number of Chinese operas, offering here a synthesis of East and West.Scored for a solo violin and Western orchestra, the work makes use of themesfrom traditional Shaoxing opera, popularised in a film of the 1950s, while thesolo violin part reflects something of the technique of the er-hu, thetwo-string Chinese fiddle. The work is in one continuous movement, its threesections corresponding to the demands of the narrative and to the divisions ofWestern sonata form.The story itself is well known in China, although there aresome variants in the tale as it is told. Zhu Yingtai, an intelligent andambitious girl, disguises herself as a boy and sets out for Hangzhou, to study.On her journey she meets Liang Shanbo, a poor scholar, who is also going toHangzhou for the same purpose. They soon find much in common and swear tobecome blood brothers. During their three years of study together, they developa deep friendship, but later Zhu Yingtai is urged by her father to return home.During her years of study she has fallen in love with Liang Shanbo, but hasbeen too shy to admit it to him. He is reluctant to say good-bye to Zhu Yingtaiand walks with her on the first eighteen miles of her journey home, parting ata pavilion, before she continues her journey. He is still unaware of ZhuYingtai's true identity, in spite of the hints she has dropped, which the boyhas not understood. This forms the first section of the concerto. In thecentral development Zhu Yingtai defies her father, who has arranged a marriagefor her with the son of a rich neighbour. Liang Shanbo decides to visit hisfriend, and discovers, to his surprise and delight, that Zhu Yingtai is a girl.Sadly she tells him of her father's plan for her. Liang leaves her, in sorrow,and soon dies of unhappiness. On Zhu Yingtai's wedding-day, when the weddingprocession from the Zhu's to the house of her new husband passes by Liang'sgrave, Zhu Yingtai insists on leaving the bridal palanquin, to mourn at thegrave. At that moment a thunderstorm breaks. In the heavy rain, Liang Shanbo'sgrave suddenly opens. Zhu Yingtai immediately leaps in, before the grave closesagain. After the storm, a rainbow appears. Among the flowers rise twobutterflies, said to be the souls of the immortal lovers, transformed and nowunited for ever.Songs and Dances of the Silk Road, a suite for solo violinand Western orchestra, is based on traditional melodies to be heard in the Westof China, from where the famous Silk Road takes its course
Tracklisting
Dariia Lytvishko
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Marin Alsop
Alice Di Piazza; Basel Sinfonietta; NDR Bigband; Titus Engel
Anna Alas i Jove; Miquel Villalba
David Childs; Black Dyke Band; Nicholas Childs
Yaqi Yang; Margarita Parsamyan; Robynne Redmon; Minghao Liu; Frank Ragsdale; Kim Josephson; Kevin S
Vilmos Csikos; Olivier Lechardeur; Manon Lamaison
Tomas Cotik; Martingale Ensemble; Ken Selden
