Spring, a season imbued with poetic charm and burgeoning hope. On the evening of April 3rd, the Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao's “Voice of Spring” student exchange concert made its vibrant debut, keeping pace with the heartbeat of spring. President Lu Siqing, accompanied by students from the keyboard, string, and wind majors, as well as Jung-won Choi from the Yehudi Menuhin School, and Lu Liangjie from the Affiliated Middle School of the Central Conservatory of Music, graced the spring evening rendezvous with the audience. This occasion also marked a significant stride in fostering academic exchanges with esteemed institutions.
Mark Stringer, Deputy Head of the school, made an enthusiastic opening speech before the concert, introducing the school's pedagogical philosophy and salient features. He extended a warm welcome to all guests present and expressed his gratitude for the esteemed presence of guest professor Ms. Na Mula. He remarked, “Tonight's concert is rather special, uniting performers from different schools, including our sister institution, the Yehudi Menuhin School. Such open academic dialogues facilitate our collective advancement.”
The concert began with the rustic and organic Violin Concerto No. 4, a timeless masterpiece crafted by Mozart, that every generation of violinists must learn and perform. With its pure and sophisticated tonality, the piece radiates a rich aroma. The students further treated the audience to a repertoire of pieces spanning the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th-century periods, composed by a range of international composers from Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia, composed for violin, cello, clarinet, trumpet, and piano. The intense melodies brought a feast of beauty to the live audience, igniting a profound love for music and evoking delightful wishes for the spring season.
W. A. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218
I.Allegro
Violin: Li Hao
Instructed by: Wang Boyang | Piano accompaniment: Liu Zhirong
D. Kabalevsky: Improvisation, op. 21 for Violin and Piano
Violin: Ma Yicheng
Instructed by: Tymur Meln | Piano accompaniment: Wang Ziyue
C. Saint Sains: Allegro appassionato, op. 43 for Cello and Piano
Cello: Li Zichang
Instructed by: Chen Xueqing | Piano accompaniment: Shi He
L. V. Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 2 in G minor, op. 5
II.Rondo. Allegro
Cello: Li Bingqi
Instructed by: Yu Mingqing | Piano accompaniment: Wang Ziyue
J. B. Arban: Variations on a Theme from Norma for Trumpet and Piano
Trumpet: Liu Yinglu
Instructed by: Dai Zhonghui | Piano accompaniment: Wang Ziyue
C.Weber: Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor, op. 73
I.Allegro
Clarinet: Han Zhengxuan
Instructed by: Li Kesi | Piano accompaniment: Wang Ziyue
J. S. Bach: Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004
II.Corrente
III.Sarabande
Violin: Wei Chuanqi
Instructed by: Zhang Ziti
A.Vivaldi: The Four Seasons Concerto No. 1 in E major, op. 8, RV 269, Spring (La Primavera)
I.Allegro
Violin: Wang Yifei
Instructors: He Shucong | Piano accompaniment: Wang Ziyue
Cui Zhengyuan, a student from Qingdao studying at the Yehudi Menuhin School, gave an engaging performance of two challenging violin pieces, Midnight Bells and Zapateado. With an effortless flair, he mastered both compositions, skillfully painting intricate and mesmerizing scenes with the stroke of his bow.
F. Kreisler: Midnight Bells for Violin and Piano (From R. Heuberger’s operetta Der Opernball’)
Violin: Cui Zhengyuan
The Yehudi Menuhin School| Piano accompaniment: Shi He
P. Sarasate: Zapateado, op. 23 for Violin and Piano
Violin: Cui Zhengyuan
The Yehudi Menuhin School| Piano accompaniment: Shi He
M. Moszkowski: Étincelles, op. 36, No. 6
Piano: Yang Botian
Instructed by: Xu Fei
F. Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C# minor, S.244/2
Piano: Zhang Wenting
Instructed by: Xu Fei
Lu Liangjie, from the affiliated middle school of the Central Conservatory of Music, performed Zigeunerweisen, a piece rich in Spanish flavor. Through the enchanting rhythm of his violin, Lu effectively portrayed the unique characteristics intrinsic to Gypsy culture. His performance was profoundly evocative and moving.
The concert reached its climax with a captivating duet performed by President Lu Siqing and his son, Lu Liangjie. Their rendition of Shostakovich's Five Pieces for Two Violins and Piano vividly embodied the romantic essence that Shostakovich sought to express, leaving the audience utterly spellbound.
P. Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen, op. 20
Violin: Lu Liangjie
Instructed by: Chen Xi, Zhang Ti | Piano accompaniment: Wang Ziyue
D. Shostakovich: Five Pieces for Two Violins and Piano
I.Prelude
II.Waltz
III.Polka
Violin: Lu Liangjie, Lu Siqing
Piano accompaniment: Wang Ziyue