Lao Zhang's Philosophy

Date: March 1-4-7:30 pm

Venue: NCPA, Beijing

Director Li Bonan is good at adapting contemporary stories into plays. The play is adapted from Lao Zhang's Philosophy, Laoshe's first full-length novel of the same title published in Fiction Monthly Magazine in 1926. The novel is set in the early Republic of China, a warlord era when small potatoes of various kinds in the town outside Deshengmen, Beijing experienced the ups and downs of life, went through grief at separation and joy in union, and chased their own dreams in the tide of the times. The protagonist Mr Zhang was greedy for money, and dreamed of getting rich all his life. The play is rearranged and innovated audaciously based on an intensive study of the original. More authentic local customs of the old Beijing are integrated into the play to reveal how the war was excruciating. The narrative technique and performance means are also refreshed on the basis of the tradition: a performer plays two roles, and dreams are completely blended with the reality, giving the old work a new look.

International Women's Day Concert

Date: March 4-7:30 pm

Venue: NCPA, Beijing

Tan Lihua began his conducting career at the age of 16. He was admitted to the Conducting Department at Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1977, and studied under Professor Huang Xiaotong, a well-known Chinese conductor and educator. Subsequently, he continued his studies with conductor Li Delun, and worked as his assistant. From 1982 to 1991, he taught at Tianjin Conservatory of Music. From 1991 to 1995, he served as the conductor of China National Symphony Orchestra. In 2000-2001 music season, Tan was the permanent conductor of Russian National Orchestra. As one of the most active conductors in China, he has also cooperated with major orchestras in the country, such as China National Symphony Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and has attended a number of important festivals, contests and concerts.

Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky with Zhang Guoyong and Schwabe

Date: March 10-7:30 pm

Venue: NCPA, Beijing

Zhang Guoyong graduated from the Conducting Department of Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1983, and was conferred with a Doctor's degree in Music by the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 1987. He studied with Professor Huang Xiaotong, a renowned conductor and music educator in China, and famous Russian conducting master Gennady Rozhdestvensky successively. Currently, he is the Artistic Director of Shanghai Opera House and the professor and Director of the Conducting Department of Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Over the last years, Gabriel Schwabe has established himself among the leading cellists of his generation. Important critics praise his expressive interpretations and technical abilities paired with a compelling presence on stage. As a soloist, he has performed with orchestras such as the London Philharmonia, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra with conductors Marek Janowski, Eivind Gullberg-Jensen, Dennis Russell-Davies, Cornelius Meister and Michael Sanderling.