Macao Chinese Orchestra Presents “Eternal Shandan Lily” to Celebrate Return to Motherland
Jointly with Shaanxi National Musicians, a 100-Musician Orchestra Stages a Grand Performance at Ruins of St. Paul’s
To celebrate the 26th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, the “Eternal Shandan Lily” concert, hosted by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao and organized by Macao Orchestra Limited, will be grandly held at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19, at the Forecourt of Ruins of St. Paul’s. The over 100-member orchestra will showcase the life scenes of the Shaanbei people who have lived and multiplied on the Loess Plateau for generations through artistic forms such as Shaanbei waist drum, suona, Xintianyou (a form of Shaanbei folk song), and Shaanbei storytelling, presenting a magnificent and imposing performance as a gift for the return anniversary. The concert is free of charge, and interested individuals can register on the Macao Ticketing Network starting from 10:00 a.m. on December 10.
The concert will be conducted by Zhang Lie, who serves as both the music director and principal conductor of the Macao Chinese Orchestra. Renowned banhu master Shen Cheng and young suona performer Wang Zhanzhan will perform together, while singer Su Wen will interpret Shaanbei folk songs, and Gao Yongyuan, the inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of “Shaanbei storytelling”, will also give a performance with sanxian accompaniment and singing. The concert has specially invited the Shaanxi Radio and Television National Orchestra, Shaanxi National Orchestra, and Mizhi Wind and Percussion Orchestra to form a magnificent 100-member joint orchestra with the Macao Chinese Orchestra, jointly presenting a national music gala.
The national orchestral suite Eternal Shandan Lily, composed by the renowned composer Wang Danhong, deeply explores the history and local spirit of Shaanxi and integrates them into the movements, fully expressing the profound connotations of Chinese culture. Premiered in Shaanxi in 2017, the work was well-received and has toured more than 30 mainland cities, garnering continuous acclaim and numerous awards. These include being selected into the first batch of the National Arts Fund’s large-scale stage play and work creation support program, and winning the first prize at the 14th “Wenhua Award” National Excellent National Music and Symphony Works Competition.
The “Eternal Shandan Lily” concert lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes with no intermission and is free of charge. Interested individuals can register on the Macao Ticketing Network starting from 10:00 a.m. on December 10. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis through registration, with a maximum of two tickets per person; a small number of on-site tickets will also be available with limited quantities. To ensure the safety of the audience on site, the organizer will implement crowd control measures in designated areas on the day of the performance. Once the limited number of people is reached, no further entry into the designated areas will be allowed. In case the performance has to be canceled due to rainy or thunderstorm weather, the audience is requested to pay attention and follow the on-site instructions and arrangements.
