2017年CRI China's top symphony orchestras join an Orchestral Marathon

 

Ever heard of an Orchestral Marathon?

It's a great way to give audience members an unusual experience of music appreciation¹ but also test their endurance.

A total of nine of China's top symphony orchestras gathered at the Poly Theater in Beijing on Saturday, with each ensemble² taking it in turns to perform for about 40 minutes of music.

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The Orchestral Marathon was part of the ongoing³ Beijing Music Festival, which kicked off a week ago.

Program director of the Beijing Music Festival Tu Song explains:

"The Orchestral Marathon is a big highlight of the festival, which will also be unique in China. These symphony orchestras come from all over the country, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Qingdao and Kunming. We suggested the orchestras devise their shows according to local characteristics. And they agreed. For example, the Kunming Nie Er Symphony Orchestra are going to play two pieces featuring Yunnan's distinctive⁴ music style, including the Ashima Suites⁵, adapted by composer Zou Ye from the theme music of the movie, Ashima."

Starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, five orchestras, namely the Kunming Nie Er Symphony Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra played one after the other in the first half of the Orchestral Marathon.

An entire day of performances is inevitably⁶ challenging but also exciting for the audiences.

But what about the musicians? For some, it's a wonderful grand reunion.

Zeng Cheng is the first violin at the China Philharmonic Orchestra.

"It offers us a valuable chance for face-to-face communication within these two days during both our rehearsals⁷ and the formal show. We haven't met each other for quite a long time and only keep in touch via Wechat, and now we can stay and rehearse together for two days, which makes us feel quite excited, as if we were back on campus."

The Orchestral Marathon was not only a showcase for China's top orchestras and musicians but offered young musicians a valuable platform.

Young violinist Liu Ming was thrilled and also a bit nervous to perform at the Beijing Music Festival, as she's still a young college student.

She says she would love to join the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra:

"I'm just around 20. Few of my schoolmates are as lucky as I am to have such a valuable chance to perform onstage and with world-class musicians. I would strive to do my best in each of my performances."

The Orchestral Marathon in all showcased total of 28 classic pieces of music.

Tan Lihua is the conductor of the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, which was the third orchestra to play at the Marathon. Talking about the repertoire⁸ of the their forty-minute segment, Tan was confident it would satisfy the audience.

"Our concert at noon had to be relaxing for the audience and enable them to appreciate the beauty brought about by world classical music. Our opening piece is the 'Overture⁹ to the Queen of Spades' by the Austrian composer of light operas Franz von Suppé, which was played as the grand finale to the Vienna 2017 New Year's Day Concert."

The latter half of marathon started at five p.m. and ran through till 10 p.m. Symphony orchestras from Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Qingdao and a newly-formed Festive¹⁰ Orchestra made up of elite¹¹ members of all nine orchestras gave shows successively.

An interesting fact about the festive orchestra is that musicians had to draw lots to see who would get the chance to perform.

According to Beijing Music Festival's organizers, the launch of this new Festive Orchestra aims to allow musicians to meet, share and learn from each other.

Tu Song also added that the Orchestral Marathon's unique program also marks the annual festival's 20th anniversary.

1 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

2 ensemble   

n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果

参考例句：

• We should consider the buildings as an ensemble.我们应把那些建筑物视作一个整体。
• It is ensemble music for up to about ten players,with one player to a part.它是最多十人演奏的合奏音乐，每人担任一部分。

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

5 suites   

n.套( suite的名词复数 )；一套房间；一套家具；一套公寓

参考例句：

• First he called upon all the Foreign Ministers in their hotel suites. 他首先到所有外交部长住的旅馆套间去拜访。 来自辞典例句
• All four doors to the two reserved suites were open. 预定的两个套房的四扇门都敞开着。 来自辞典例句

6 inevitably   

adv.不可避免地；必然发生地

参考例句：

• In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。
• Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。

7 rehearsals   

n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 )；排练；复述；重复

参考例句：

• The earlier protests had just been dress rehearsals for full-scale revolution. 早期的抗议仅仅是大革命开始前的预演。
• She worked like a demon all through rehearsals. 她每次排演时始终精力过人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 repertoire   

n.(准备好演出的)节目，保留剧目；(计算机的)指令表，指令系统， <美>(某个人的)全部技能；清单，指令表

参考例句：

• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。
• He has added considerably to his piano repertoire.他的钢琴演奏曲目大大增加了。

9 overture   

n.前奏曲、序曲，提议，提案，初步交涉

参考例句：

• The opera was preceded by a short overture.这部歌剧开始前有一段简短的序曲。
• His overture led to nothing.他的提议没有得到什么结果。

10 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

11 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。