Huang with the erhu (left) sharing a light moment with Tan.
To mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China, members of Orkestra Kuala Lumpur and Beijing Symphony Orchestra (BSO) presented a musical medley with the best of both worlds.
Organised by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, the concert was held at Auditorium Bandaraya, Menara DBKL in Kuala Lumpur.
The performance was organised to commemorate past collaborations between the two nations and celebrate the present and future joint ventures.
Helming the concert of Malaysian and Chinese compositions were conductors Tan Li Hua from Beijing and Dr Isabella Pek from Kuala Lumpur.
The mixed orchestra performing a tribute to P. Ramlee in the concert marking 50 years of bilateral ties between China and Malaysia. — Photos: SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star
The programme included the overture from Ode to the Red Flag followed by BSO repertoire pieces such as Yao Tribe, Chinese Sights and Sounds, Lan Hua Hua and the Chinese New Year’s Eve segment from the piece Erhu Concerto Nostalgia Dreams of Beijing.
Among the 28 musicians flying in from Beijing was erhu soloist Huang Xiao Qing who performed the classic piece Sai Ma (Racing Horse).
Written to allow the erhu player to showcase various effects of the instrument, this piece produced sounds that mimicked those of a horse.
After this, audiences were treated to Malaysian performances such as Cempakasari, Medley Irama Warisan, Istimewa P. Ramlee, Medley Kenek-Kenek Udang, Watimalandak as well as Jambatan Tamparuli.
Malaysia’s sitar musicians Mohd Radzi Rosli and gambus player Mohd Ridhuan Abdul Zateh performed with Huang in the finale of Istimewa P. Ramlee, a tribute to the country’s national arts laureate.
During the concert intermission, Tan expressed what a joyous experience it was to have conducted the orchestras.
“Hopefully, I can perform in Kuala Lumpur again,” he said.
On a lighter note, Tan said he had tried various durian Musang King, Red Prawn and Black Thorn durians, and loved them.
Guests were treated to two other symphonic numbers, namely Chinese folk song Mo Li Hua (Jasmine Flower) and Auld Lang Syne.
Also present was China’s ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing who was received by DBKL Culture, Arts, Tourism and Sports Department director Naquib Hamdan as well as fellow Kuala Lumpur Advisory Board Member Andre Lai, Carmen Leong and Datuk Afdlin Shauki Aksan.
