{"id":120124,"date":"2025-12-08T14:16:03","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T19:16:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=120124"},"modified":"2025-12-10T08:54:31","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T13:54:31","slug":"preview-li-delun-music-foundations-east-meets-west-new-years-concert-welcome-2026-year-horse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/12\/08\/preview-li-delun-music-foundations-east-meets-west-new-years-concert-welcome-2026-year-horse\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Li Delun Music Foundation\u2019s East Meets West New Year\u2019s Concert To Welcome 2026 And The Year Of The Horse"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Li
Li Delun Music Foundation\u2019s East Meets West New Year\u2019s Concert 2024 with soloists Teng Li, viola & John Wong, percussion; conductor Dongxiao Xu (Photo: James Zhu)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How will you be ringing in the new year? Besides Bravissimo and Salute to Vienna, Li Delun Music Foundation\u2019s East Meets West New Year\u2019s Concert is a cherished artistic and cultural Toronto tradition that you should not miss.<\/p>\n

Li Delun Music Foundation<\/h2>\n

Maestro Li Delun (1917 \u2013 2001) was the founding conductor of the first professional symphony orchestra of the People\u2019s Republic of China, and he devoted his life to promoting classical music in communist China. One of his most famous collaborations was with renowned violinist Isaac Stern, the first American musician invited to play with the China Central Symphony Society (now the China National Symphony Orchestra). This venture was captured in the 1979 documentary From Mao to Mozart, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.<\/p>\n

In 1981, the Maestro became the first Chinese conductor to lead the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in a performance that featured Peter Oundjian (who later became TSO\u2019s music director) as the violin soloist.<\/p>\n

Shortly after the Maestro\u2019s death in 2001, musicians of Toronto\u2019s Chinese community came together to perform in a concert as a tribute to his legacy. This endeavour grew into a yearly tradition, and a foundation in his name was established by his family.<\/p>\n

Besides the New Year concert being the Foundation\u2019s main event of the year, it also hosts master classes, piano recitals and fundraising galas.<\/p>\n

LV spoke with composer\/pianist\/magician Kemin Zhang<\/strong> and cellist Rosalind Zhang<\/strong>, grandchildren of Maestro Li Delun, and executive directors of the Foundation about the upcoming New Year Concert.<\/p>\n

\"Li
Li Delun Music Foundation\u2019s East Meets West New Year\u2019s Concert 2019 with conductor Xincao Li\u00a0 (Photo courtesy of Le Delun Music Foundation)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

East Meets West New Year\u2019s Concert<\/h2>\n

This is the 19th edition of the almost annual tradition, the mission of which is to showcase cultural harmony through music, while introducing the richness of Chinese musical heritage to the world. Each year, the concert features a fresh roster of local and international talents.<\/p>\n

According to Rosalind, these concerts not only provide a platform for emerging artists to perform, but also showcase established international artists who are not well-known in Canada on the Toronto stage. She describes the Toronto Festival Orchestra that plays at this concert as a truly musicians\u2019 orchestra.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur organization is a family affair, with many family members and friends playing alongside each other in the orchestra,\u201d notes Rosalind. The group reflects the cultural mosaic of our country. At last year\u2019s concert, members of the orchestra offered new year greetings in 13 different languages. \u201cWe want to show our diversity and how music really brings us together.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Program<\/h3>\n

The full program includes:<\/p>\n

PROGRAM \u2014 East-Meets-West New Year\u2019s Concert 2026
\n\u4e2d\u897f\u532f\u7cb9\u65b0\u5e74\u97f3\u4e50\u4f1a
\nPresented by the Li Delun Music Foundation
\nFeaturing the Toronto Festival Orchestra<\/p>\n

Conductor: Yongyan Hu
\nConcertmaster: Qing Li
\nHost: Kemin Zhang \u5f20\u79d1\u6c11<\/p>\n

I. Opening Works<\/strong>
\nSaibei Dance \u2014 \u585e\u5317\u821e\u66f2
\nAn-Lun Huang \u9ec4\u5b89\u4f26<\/p>\n

II. Pipa Concerto (Ancient Music)<\/strong>
\nIncludes \u201cKing Chu Doffs His Armour \u2014\u300a\u9738\u738b\u5378\u7532\u300b\u201d
\nZhou Long \u5468\u9f99
\nPipa Soloist: Qiu Jiayu \u90b1\u4f73\u88d5 (Young emerging artist from China, highly recommended by the dean of China Conservatory)
\nA dramatic retelling of the final moments of Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Chu, through the expressive power of the pipa.<\/p>\n

III. Erhu Feature: \u201cHorse Racing\u201d \u2014\u300a\u8d5b\u9a6c\u300b<\/strong>
\nHuang Haihuai \u9ec4\u6d77\u6000
\nArrangements by Chen Yaoxing \u9648\u8000\u661f, Chen Jun \u9648\u519b
\nOrchestration by Yang Chunlin \u6768\u6625\u6797
\nErhu Soloist: Snow Bai \u767d\u96ea<\/p>\n

IV. Sabre Dance \u2014\u300a\u9a6c\u5200\u821e\u66f2\u300b<\/strong>
\nAram Khachaturian \u963f\u62c9\u59c6\u00b7\u54c8\u6070\u675c\u826f<\/p>\n

V. Yellow River Piano Concerto \u2014\u300a\u9ec4\u6cb3\u94a2\u7434\u534f\u594f\u66f2\u300b<\/strong>
\nMovement IV: \u201cDefend the Yellow River\u201d \u2014 \u4fdd\u536b\u9ec4\u6cb3
\nBy Yin Chengzong \u6bb7\u627f\u5b97, Chu Wanghua \u50a8\u671b\u534e, Liu Zhuang \u5218\u5e84, Sheng Lihong \u76db\u793c\u6d2a,
\nShi Shucheng \u77f3\u53d4\u8bda, Xu Feixing \u8bb8\u6590\u661f
\nBased on Xian Xinghai\u2019s \u51bc\u661f\u6d77 Yellow River Cantata
\nPiano Soloist: Eric Guo \u90ed\u5609\u9a8f<\/p>\n

Intermission<\/strong><\/p>\n

VI. Chrysanthemum Terrace \u2014\u300a\u83ca\u82b1\u53f0\u300b<\/strong>
\nFrom the film Curse of the Golden Flower \u300a\u6ee1\u57ce\u5c3d\u5e26\u9ec4\u91d1\u7532\u300b
\nJay Chou \u5468\u6770\u4f26, arr. Eric Guo \u90ed\u5609\u9a8f
\nFeaturing: Erhu: Snow Bai \u767d\u96ea; Guzheng: Lina Cao \u66f9\u4e3d\u5a1c; Cello: Rosalind Zhang \u5f20\u97de\u65af; Piano: Eric Guo \u90ed\u5609\u9a8f<\/p>\n

VII. Tales from the Vienna Woods \u2014\u300a\u7ef4\u4e5f\u7eb3\u68ee\u6797\u7684\u6545\u4e8b\u300b<\/strong>
\nWaltz, Op. 325, Johann Strauss II<\/p>\n

VIII. Baritone Spotlight<\/strong>
\na) Ode to the Yellow River \u2014\u300a\u9ec4\u6cb3\u9882\u300b
\nXian Xinghai \u51bc\u661f\u6d77 \u2014 Text by Guang Weiran \u5149\u672a\u7136 (whose son Ange Zhang, an artist whose paintings about the piece will be one display at the concert on the second floor promenade.)<\/p>\n

b) Largo al factotum \u2014\u300a\u5feb\u7ed9\u5fd9\u4eba\u8ba9\u8def\u300b
\nFrom The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini
\nBaritone Soloist: Feng Zhang \u5f20\u5cf0<\/p>\n

IX. Symphony No. 7 \u201cLeningrad\u201d \u2014\u300a\u5217\u5b81\u683c\u52d2\u4ea4\u54cd\u66f2\u300b<\/strong>
\nMovement IV: Allegro non troppo
\nDmitri Shostakovich<\/p>\n

As its name suggests, the program is a mix of both Eastern and Western music. The concert will open with \u201cSaibei Dance,\u201d written by Markham-based Chinese Canadian composer An-Lun Huang<\/strong>. As a nod to the Viennese new year concert tradition, several pieces by Johann Strauss II will be featured alongside those played on Chinese instruments, like the Pipa Concerto and \u201cHorse Racing\u201d on the erhu. The latter celebrates the upcoming Year of the Horse, and is complemented by the electrifying tempo of Aram Khachaturian\u2019s \u201cSabre Dance.\u201d There will also be a cinematic piece specially arranged for a mixed ensemble of piano, cello, erhu and guzheng.<\/p>\n

Another theme of this concert is to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The orchestra will perform the fourth movement of Dmitri Shostakovich\u2019s Symphony No. 7 with a double brass section, \u201ca piece that resonates with anti-fascism,\u201d according to Kemin.<\/p>\n

\"Li
Li Delun Music Foundation\u2019s East Meets West New Year\u2019s Concert 2019 (Photo: Bright Photograph)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Yellow River Cantata and Piano Concerto<\/h3>\n

The World War II theme continues with The Yellow River Piano Concerto, arguably the most famous Chinese piano work heard in the Western world. Kemin explains the piece\u2019s historical background, its anti-war meaning as well as its special personal connection to the Li Delun family.<\/p>\n

The Yellow River Piano Concerto as we know it today actually originated from The Yellow River Cantata, composed by Xian Xinghai in 1939 during the Second Sino-Japanese War, as a symbol of Chinese defiance against the Japanese invaders. The lyrics were adapted from a patriotic poem by Guang Weiran.<\/p>\n

During the Cultural Revolution, the lyrics of the cantata were deemed too political. The cantata was banned from performance, but was later authorized to be rearranged into a piano concerto. Its 1970 premiere by pianist Yin Chengzong<\/strong> was conducted by none other than Li Delun.<\/p>\n

There have been numerous iterations of this concerto ever since, but audiences will be hearing the original version played at its premiere, courtesy of a score provided by Yin, now based in New York. Just like in the original arrangement, there will be added parts played on the pipa and the suona, a Chinese woodwind instrument which, as Kemin describes, \u201cplays like an oboe, but looks like a trumpet.\u201d<\/p>\n

An excerpt of the concerto will be brought to life by the talented young Canadian pianist Eric Guo<\/strong>, First Prize winner of the 2023 International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments.<\/p>\n

Kemin says that this concert is extra special because the audience will hear both the Yellow River Piano Concerto and Cantata, which are rarely performed together in the same concert. Singing the \u201cOde to the Yellow River\u201d will be Zhang Feng, a respected baritone from China, who will also perform an aria from the Rossini\u2019s opera The Barber of Seville.<\/p>\n

The spectacle doesn\u2019t end there. To accompany the commemorative program, the Foundation will host a Yellow River Art Exhibition on the second floor of the concert hall, featuring eight paintings by Toronto-based artist Zhang Ange<\/strong>, son of Guang, the poet who inspired the lyrics of the Yellow River Cantata.<\/p>\n

Conductor Yongyan Hu<\/strong> from China will be helming this year\u2019s concert, with Qing Li<\/strong> (Principal Second Violin of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra) serving as concertmaster.<\/p>\n

As per tradition, returning concert host Kemin will have a few magic tricks up his sleeve, along with more surprises to accompany this spectacular and diverse program. It promises to delight audiences of all ages and cultural backgrounds.<\/p>\n

The Concert<\/h2>\n

Li Delun Music Foundation Presents East Meets West New Year\u2019s Concert on January 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at the George Weston Recital Hall, Meridian Arts Centre.<\/p>\n