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Oliver Chou

Two Countries, One Stage
Qingdao Symphony and Choral
Arts Society of Washington
Shatin Town Hall
 
A full orchestra from the city that produces China's most famous beer showcased its symphonic power on Friday and the result was just as intoxicating.
With a tantalising chorus from America, Shatin Town Hall was poured a satisfying serving of Two Countries, One Stage, as the official title calls it.
Qingdao Symphony Orchestra, based in the coastal city in east China that is home to Tsingtao beer, joined the 88-member Choral Arts Society of Washington in the New Territories hall in what was the final leg of a five-city tour sponsored by the Ministry of Culture as a part of the "Meet in Beijing" Arts Festival.
Cultural Minister Luo Shugang says in the programme that this year's festival, the 15th edition, features the US as the guest of honour with the Washington chorus as one of the arts groups to tour China.
US Secretary of State John Kerry writes that cultural exchange "will help us to build greater mutual understanding".
Having performed in Qingdao , Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, both the orchestra and the chorus performed in excellent rapport in Carmina Burana , a song-cycle in Latin for the full orchestra, chorus and solo vocalists.
Under the energetic conducting of Zhang Guoyong, the Qingdao orchestra's music director, the famous opening line "O Fortuna!" by the pounding timpani and orchestra, followed by the full-bodied chorus in full fortissimo set the scene.
Zhang was in full control and seemed to favour a faster tempo, which added excitement and colour to the Carl Orff masterpiece.
The reading was anything but routine, although the percussion, especially the timpani, could have been less heavy-handed and better balanced. Conversely, the woodwind section and especially the horns (inaudible in Behold the Welcome) needed better volume and tone quality to match the full strings.
The choristers displayed finesse in lyrical passages, such as the female voices in The Forest Flowers, and great versatility in tricky passages.
Soprano Song Yuanming, baritone Yang Xiaoyong and tenor Zheng Yao had their moments and handled challenging passages with ease.
Two Countries, One Stage ended in rapturous and many smiles, Chinese and American.
 


Qingdao Symphony and the Choral Arts Society of Washington give intoxicating performance

Qingdao Orchestra with Washington choir.Photo: SMP Pictures

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