Ding Yi Music Company invites you to experience a mythical journey of Chinese chamber music at Earth: Unheard, featuring works inspired by folklore, mythology, and native traditions, each note resonating with human emotions and the vastness of nature, sparking imagination and reflection.

Led by Artistic Advisor Hu Yu, renowned banhu virtuoso and professor at the Central Conservatory of Music, and curated by Ding Yi concertmaster, Fred Chan Hong Wei, the concert features all premiere works, including the Singapore premiere of Barong Dance, a sheng solo composed by Young Artist Award recipient Wang Chenwei and performed by Ding Yi sheng musician Soh Swee Kiat. The sheng, one of the oldest Chinese instruments, is rarely heard as a solo instrument, making this performance a unique highlight of the evening. Hu will also present the banhu solo Polyphonic Returns, along with his own composition, Echoes of the Mountain having its world premiere, guiding audiences to hear the voices of the earth and explore a deeper connection to nature and humanity.

Audiences can look forward to a diverse showcase of chamber ensemble settings to present the versatility of Chinese chamber music. This interplay of textures, timbres, and musical dialogues is the essence of Chinese chamber music, offering a rich and refreshing listening experience each time.

“Learning the banhu under Hu Yu was a turning point in my musical journey,” said Curator and Concertmaster Fred Chan Hong Wei. “From those early days of study to now collaborating on Earth: Unheard, we continue to delve deeper into the vast world of Chinese chamber music. This concert reflects that ongoing exploration—where tradition meets innovation, and where the voices of nature, mythology, and native sounds shape our artistic expression.”

The concert would also feature the local premieres of Tsai Cheng-che’s “Mahākāla”, and Yang Yong’s “Three Folk Sentiments”, a composition that beautifully captures the three most defining emotions in daily life: joy, sorrow, and humour. Earth: Unheard is part of Ding Yi’s 2025/26 season’s Chamber Classics, focused on championing the finest works within the realm of Chinese chamber music.

Earth: Unheard will be held on 20th April 2025, 7.30pm at the Esplanade Recital Studio. Tickets available on SISTIC

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