London based award winning Composer Raymond Yiu who is originally from Hong Kong, announces two concerts to bring Chinese music to the masses. Through months of preparation, rehearsals and working with other with high quality artists, the public are in for a treat.
Yiu writes for Nee Hao Magazine, to tell readers more about creating cultural harmonies.
Throughout my career as a composer, I have dedicated myself to bringing the extraordinary traditions of Chinese and Western music together, creating cultural harmonies. I am fascinated by how much we can learn about our respective cultures through sharing pieces of beautiful music.
I have been extremely fortunate to work with some of the greatest Chinese musicians in the last few years. In 2009, I wrote for and conducted the piano supremo, Lang Lang and the Silk String Quartet, and collaborated with the qin master Li Xiangting in 2001.
Lang Lang (R), pianist, and Raymond Yiu, composer & conductor, at their rehearsal for the premiere of Yiu’s new piece ‘Maomao Yü’, LSO St Luke’s London
At the beginning of this year, my orchestral work The London Citizen Exceedingly Injured was given its first performance by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Long Yu. He is the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the China Philharmonic Orchestra, Music Director of the Shanghai and Guanzhou Symphony Orchestras and Artistic Director of the Beijing Music Festival.
Raymond Yiu and Li Xiangting during Rehearsal – Photo courtesy of Malcolm Crowthers 2011
Now, I am delighted to announce two new projects that will help bring Chinese music and musicians to the attention of the wider public.
The Rare, The New, The Wonderful on 6th July 2013 at LSO St Luke’s brings Chinese and Asian composers (myself and my compatriot Fung Lam) and performers (Cheng Yu, Jonathan Chan and Mariko Asakawa-North) and sets them in context with Western music. The concert has been designed to appeal to all listeners – it will be a little like musical dim sum. The pieces are fresh, exciting and easy to digest – most of the pieces are under 5 minutes. The concert is guaranteed to give the audience a real treat.
Raymond Yiu & Long Yu at BBC Maida Vale Studio 1 Photo courtesy of Malcolm Crowthers
On 27th June there will the first performance of my new brass band work Ink Garden at the Brent Civic Centre. This is an exciting piece for me, as it brings together the English tradition of the brass band with a quirky hint of Chinese flavour. I hope you’ll be able to try something new and delicious!
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