Sichuan Symphony Orchestra

Darrell Ang conducting Sichuan Symphony Orchestra, December 2023

The Sichuan Symphony Orchestra (Chinese: 四川交响乐团; pinyin: Sìchuān Jiāoxiǎng Yuètuán; abbreviated SSO) is a Chinese symphony orchestra based in Chengdu, Sichuan. It was established as an independent professional orchestra in 2002 and is a provincial professional orchestra of Sichuan.[1] The orchestra includes a full symphony orchestra, the Chinese instrumental ensemble Beauty and Melody (Chinese: 天姿国乐), and a professional choir.[1]

Since its establishment, the orchestra has presented symphonic concerts, themed programmes and educational activities in Chengdu and elsewhere in China. Its repertoire includes standard Western symphonic works, Chinese orchestral and vocal works, contemporary music, film music and large-scale choral-orchestral projects.[2][3]

History

The Sichuan Symphony Orchestra was established in 2002 and subsequently developed into an independent professional orchestral institution in Sichuan.[1] The orchestra became one of the principal professional symphonic ensembles in western China, supported by the Sichuan provincial authorities and based in Chengdu.[3]

Tang Qingshi (Chinese: 唐青石) served as executive director and principal conductor in the orchestra's earlier period. The Singaporean conductor Darrell Ang was appointed artistic director and chief conductor in December 2016.[4] Under Ang's leadership, the orchestra developed regular music-season programming and placed emphasis on both Western symphonic repertoire and contemporary Chinese music.[2][5]

In 2021 the orchestra announced its fifth symphonic season, Tianfu Sichuan, Land of Music, with 26 concert programmes planned from September 2021 to July 2022.[6] The season included collaborations with conductors, composers and soloists from China and abroad, and presented works ranging from classical symphonic repertoire to contemporary Chinese compositions.[6]

In May 2024, the orchestra gave the first concert in the Sichuan Symphony Hall at the Sichuan Provincial Culture and Art Centre. The programme included the violin concerto The Butterfly Lovers and Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, with violinist Lü Siqing, conductor Ham Shin-Ik, the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the Lanzhou Concert Hall Chorus, the "We Are Together" children's charity choir, soprano Zhang Jingdan, baritone Li Geng and countertenor Xiao Ma.[7][8]

By 2026, Ni Fan (Chinese: 范妮) was listed by the orchestra as artistic director and principal conductor.[9]

Artistic directors and conductors

The orchestra's earlier leadership included Tang Qingshi, who served as executive director and principal conductor. Darrell Ang became artistic director and chief conductor in December 2016.[4] Ang is a Singaporean conductor who won the Grand Prize, Audience Prize and Orchestra Prize at the 50th Besançon International Conducting Competition, and has conducted orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra and St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra.[4][5]

Ni Fan later became artistic director and principal conductor. Her work has included collaborations with orchestras in China and abroad, and she has also been active as professor at the China Conservatory of Music and permanent conductor of the China Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.[9]

Concert activity and repertoire

The orchestra's concert activity includes symphonic season concerts, chamber music events, public-interest performances and programmes involving Chinese and Western repertoire.[2][1] Its programming has included works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Gustav Mahler, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Béla Bartók, Sergei Prokofiev, Carl Orff, Manuel de Falla and Ottorino Respighi, as well as Chinese works and commissioned or thematic projects.[6][10][11]

The orchestra has also presented contemporary and Chinese-themed projects. In 2021 it took part in the large-scale symphonic work Lighthouse (Chinese: 灯塔), commissioned jointly by several Chinese orchestras, including the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Tianjin Symphony Orchestra, Qingdao Symphony Orchestra, Harbin Symphony Orchestra and Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra.[12]

Collaborations

The Sichuan Symphony Orchestra has collaborated with Chinese and international conductors, singers, instrumentalists and composers. Early publicised collaborations included Hu Kun, Plácido Domingo, Song Zuying and Argentine soprano Virginia Tola.[13] Later seasons and special projects have included collaborations with Zhao Jiping, Tan Dun, Zhang Guoyong, Tan Lihua, Josep Vicent, Li Biao, Timur Martinov, Chen Xi, Wan Jieni, Xie Ming, Wen Ziyang, Zhang Meigui, Kuang Junhong, Zeng Yun and Liu Hang.[6][12] The orchestra has also performed with Lang Lang in the 2023 CCTV Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, in a performance conducted by Xu Zhijun.[14] Other documented collaborations include Alexandra Dariescu,[15] pianist Anna Tsybuleva,[10]José María Moreno Valiente, Nayden Todorov[16], Lü Siqing, Ham Shin-Ik, Zhang Jingdan, Li Geng and Xiao Ma.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "乐团介绍" [Orchestra introduction] (in Chinese). Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Sichuan Symphony Orchestra". National Centre for the Performing Arts. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 "SICHUAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Recruitment Notice 2023". Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "艺术总监" [Artistic Director] (in Chinese). Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Darrell Ang". Weller Artists. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "四川交响乐团全新音乐季开启 26套音乐会奉献乐迷" [Sichuan Symphony Orchestra opens new season with 26 concert programmes] (in Chinese). TOM Travel / China Culture Media Network. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  7. 1 2 "四川交响音乐厅首场音乐会上演 呈现中外经典乐章" [The first concert at Sichuan Symphony Hall presents Chinese and foreign classics] (in Chinese). Sichuan Online. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "四川省文化艺术中心·四川交响音乐厅首场音乐会盛大举行" [The first concert of the Sichuan Symphony Hall at the Sichuan Provincial Culture and Art Centre was held] (in Chinese). Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  9. 1 2 "艺术总监" [Artistic Director] (in Chinese). Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  10. 1 2 "夏日之歌" [Song of Summer] (in Chinese). Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "秋色" [Autumn Colours] (in Chinese). Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. 25 December 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  12. 1 2 "四川交响乐团2021年单位决算" [Sichuan Symphony Orchestra 2021 institutional final accounts] (in Chinese). Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "Placido Domingo and Song Zuying give concert in Chengdu, Sichuan". China Daily. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "[2023央视中秋晚会]篇章一 序曲《月涌大江》 指挥：许知俊 演奏：郎朗 四川交响乐团" [2023 CCTV Mid-Autumn Festival Gala: Overture "Moon Rising over the Great River"; conductor Xu Zhijun; performers Lang Lang and Sichuan Symphony Orchestra] (in Chinese). CCTV. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Alexandra Dariescu, Piano". Winston-Salem Symphony. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "Collaborations with Orchestras". Nayden Todorov official website. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
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