Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Celebrates the Lunar New Year with Inaugural Concert

(January 3, 2023) – Marking the start of a new tradition, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) proudly announces its inaugural Lunar New Year Concert (with pre- and post-concert events) coming to the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on Friday, January 13. Yue Bao, assistant conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra will lead the Orchestra in a program featuring works by renowned composers, including Mozart, Dvořák, and Huanzhi. Stella Chen, winner of the Queen Elisabeth International Competition will perform Chen Gang and He Zhanhao’s “Butterfly Lovers Concerto” and Ravel’s “Tzigane for Violin and Orchestra”. Rising international opera star, soprano Hera Hyesang Park will perform works by Mozart, Joowon Kim, and more.

Beginning at 6:30 pm pre-concert celebrations will fill the Meyerhoff lobby including Korean Han Pan (hand drum), a traditional Chinese Women’s costume runway show featuring Peking Opera music, and Korean Steppingstone Nanta (stick drum). In addition to the vibrant performances, concertgoers can enjoy family-friendly activities including photo opportunities, Chinese paper cutting, a traditional Korean costume display, a Chinese instrument display and petting zoo, and Chinese and Korean calligraphy. Food and beverages from local, authentic restaurant partners will also be available for purchase.

Post-concert, a Student String Ensemble featuring young musicians from the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, Howard County Gifted, and Talented Youth Orchestra, and Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra will perform traditional Korean and Chinese tunes with the program’s featured soloist, violinist Stella Chen, alongside BSO musicians.“For many people in our community, Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays of the year, and we’re so thrilled to host a celebration of such cultural significance. This year, our concert will feature Chinese and Korean artists and composers in performances that not only honor heritage and tradition, but also evoke a spirit of connectivity through music,” said Mark C. Hanson, President, and CEO of the BSO. “The BSO’s Lunar New Year Concert is one of many initiatives intended to make the Meyerhoff  ”A Hall for All” and is particularly meaningful as a celebration spearheaded by Asian-American members within our own Orchestra.”

Under the curatorial direction of an artistic advisor and BSO cellist Bo Li, and with the support of additional members of the Orchestra, this Lunar New Year Concert marks the first in an intentional expansion of AAPI programming.

Lunar new year

Friday, January 13, 8 PM

Artists

Yue Bao, conductor
Stella Chen, violin
Hera Hyesang Park, soprano
Bo Li, artistic advisor

HUANZHI Spring Festival Overture
CHEN GANG and  HE ZHANHAO Excerpts from Butterfly Lovers Concerto
RAVEL Tzigane
TRADITIONAL Variations on a Korean Folk Song
MOZART Deh vieni, non tardar from Le Nozze di Figaro
TRADITIONAL “Like the Wind That Met with Lotus”
TRADITIONAL “Bird Song”
DVORAK Slavonic Dance No. 8
TRADITIONAL/JULIA TSIEN “Jasmine Flower”
ZHOU TIAN “Gift”

Doors open at 6:30 pm for pre-concert activities. The concert begins at 8 pm. For more information and tickets, visit BSOmusic.org.

About the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

For over a century, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has been recognized as one of America’s leading orchestras and one of Maryland’s most significant cultural institutions. The orchestra is internationally renowned and locally admired for its innovation, performances, recordings, and educational outreach initiatives including OrchKids.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs annually for more than 275,000 people throughout the State of Maryland. Since 1982, the BSO has performed at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, and since 2005, with the opening of The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, MD, the BSO became the nation’s first orchestra performing its full season of classical and pops concerts in two metropolitan areas. More recently, 2020 marked the beginning of a new era of artistry, innovation, stability, and digital accessibility. More information about the BSO can be found at BSOmusic.org.