The audience applauds composers Marcel Wengler and Li Bochan as well as Yan Huichang

The Hong Kong Arts Festival and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra have co-presented the ‘Music About China’ series with news compositions of composer Marcel Wengler from Luxembourg, Enjott Schneider from Germany, Anthony Paul de Ritis as well as Chinese composers Li Bochan and Yan Huichang.

Wengler’s work Chinese Rhapsody was commissioned and performed by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. It naturally includes traditional instruments including the ancient sheng, the traditional suona, the pipa and the erhu. The music is blending Eastern and Western styles in a vibrant tribute. “I will show how I see China today,” he said. “My music is a description of China.”

When the Luxembourg composer first visited China in 1982, he was struck by its city life. From Chinese opera performances by Beijing ensembles to morning martial arts in Shanghai parks, Wengler discovered a world of sounds and voices that were new to him. Since then, he went several times to China and discovered numerous cities. So, Chinese Rhapsody showcases Chinese instruments through his “European eyes,” as Wengler says.

The audience applauds composers Marcel Wengler and Li Bochan as well as Yan Huichang