A Beethoven bonanza

The 2012-13 season of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is almost upon us, and will feature 30 symphony concerts and six chamber music concerts lasting from September 7 to June 22, 2013.

As one of the oldest symphony orchestras in Asia, the SSO was founded in 1879 as the Shanghai Public Band. In 1956 the orchestra took its current name and gradually developed into a "cultural calling card" of Shanghai. Ever since its foundation, the SSO has established working relations with world-famous musicians, introducing high-profile artists and works to Shanghai, and offering musical education to local residents.

Eye-catching

The most eye-catching aspect of the new season's program is the "Complete Beethoven" series which will include all nine symphonies and concertos including Piano Concerto, Violin Concerto, Triple Concerto, Choral Fantasy, Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt and Violin Romance No.1 & No.2.

According to the SSO, this will be the first time for a Chinese orchestra to perform so many works by Beethoven within one season.

Beethoven remains one of the most recognized composers to local audiences. And according to Yu Long, artistic director and chief conductor of the SSO, it was quite a task to get invited conductors and soloists on board when arranging such a heavily-themed season involving a single composer's work.

As one of the most distinguished Chinese conductors with an established international reputation, Yu is also the artistic director and chief conductor of the China Philharmonic Orchestra, music director of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, artistic director of the Beijing Music Festival and musical director of the Music in the Summer Air Festival (MISA).

Guest performers

SSO's program list always sees a number of internationally renowned musicians both from home and abroad performing, and this new season is no exception. Among the 20 high-profile soloists appearing are German clarinetist Sabine Meyer, French pianists Hélène Grimaud and David Fray, violinist Glenn Dicterow (chief violinist of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra), and the Chinese cellist Wang Jian. And among 18 conductors, audiences can catch big names like Osmo V nsk , Stefan Malzew and Tan Dun. Among the 17 soloists appearing are Deborah Voigt, Liao Changyong and Huang Ying.

And to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the births of both Verdi and Wagner, Verdi 200: Ildiko Komlosi Sings Verdi on March 31, 2013 will include arias from the Italian master sang by Komlosi, while Wagner 200: An Anthology on April 5, 2013 will include a selection of pieces from Wagner's Rienzi, Lohengrin, Parsifal and Die Walküre. And the classical concert opera Rigoletto from Verdi will be conducted by Zhang Jiemin and sang by the soloists Yuan Chenye and Huang Ying.

Shanghai talent

The Chinese-born American violinist Wang Xiaodong has been invited to be the resident artist of the new season of SSO. And under the baton of Yu Long, Wang will perform both at Brahms' Violin Concerto and Piano Quartet No.1, SSO's 2012-13 season opening concert on September 7.

Hailing from a musical family in Shanghai, Wang held his first concert alongside the SSO in 1981 when he was 12. A first-prize winner of the Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition at 13, and of the Wieniawski-Lipinski International Competition in Poland at 15, he later studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York.

Besides the opening concert, Wang will also be performing in some of the chamber music concerts. The concerts will be performed by Wang, the Shanghai Quartet and SSO musicians.

The ticket prices for the new season concerts range from 60 yuan ($9.44) to 480 yuan, and are on sale now. Audience members who buy a "pre-game ticket set" can enjoy any five concerts at a total discount of 40 percent.

SSO 2012-13 Season Opening Concert

Date: September 7, 7:30 pm

Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center

上海东方艺术中心

Address: 425 Dingxiang Road 丁香路425号

Tickets: 90 to 480 yuan

Call 400-821-0522 or visit www.shsymphony.com/en/ for details