Tan Lihua conducts Guo, Zhang, Chen, and Zhou – With Li Jian

The incredible diversity of contemporary China comes alive in Toulouse’s La Halle aux Grains with music by four major Chinese composers. From wide-ranging symphonic genres (concertos, overtures, and more) to national identity, the works of Wenjing Guo, Qianyi Zhang, Qigang Chen, and Long Zhou offer the manifold answers to the question of how best to bring together the rich musical heritages of China and the West. Joined by pianist Li Jian, conductor Tan Lihua leads the Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse in this exciting program. 

Originally from Sichuan in southwestern China and trained at the Beijing Conservatory, Wenjing Guo has never left his homeland. He uses Chinese folk instruments in music resembling that of musical modernists like Stravinsky, Bartók to symbolize the perfect union of East and West. Perpetuating Chinese traditions while turning toward the West also lies at the heart of works by Qigang Chen (Olivier Messiaen’s last student) and Long Zhou – who has taught for many years in the United States.