Join us for our May public talk given by the curator of our 2024 Chinese New Year concert, Po Hang Yuen (Arthur).
The work of a group of modern Chinese composers known as the ‘New Wave’ generation, including Tan Dun, Bright Sheng, and Chen Yi, has greatly boosted contemporary Chinese music. Despite growing interest, there's a lack of evaluation in discussing their creations. When scholars talk about modern Chinese music, they find that many focus only on how politics and society influence it, neglecting the music itself.
This talk will examine Tan Dun's use of ethnic elements in his work, particularly focusing on Ghost Opera (1994). Ghost Opera is chosen because it's significant in Tan Dun's work and reflects his artistic style, helping him gain international recognition. Its rich cultural elements make it a great piece to study.
Speaker bio
Po Hang Yuen (Arthur) has earned degrees from University of Hong Kong, King’s College London, and Royal Northern College of Music, and is now pursuing his doctorate in Composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Dance with Julian Anderson, Malcolm Singers and Raymond Yiu. Having studied composition for five years, Yuen received numerous commissions and collaborative opportunities from leading soloists and ensembles, including the Avanti Chamber, BBC Philharmonic, Britten Sinfonia, London Mozart Players, Phace, Psappha, Sofia Philharmonic, and Trio Immersio. His piano trio Triptych has won the third prize in the professional section of the “The New Melodies” II International Composers Competition. The music was published by Dmitry Danilov Music Agency LLC and performed at the Whitehall of the Polytechnic Institute in St. Petersburg. Last July, Yuen’s Cosmic Embrace for large ensemble received its world premiere in Finland, as a part of the Avanti Summer Sounds Festival directed by Unsuk Chin.
About the series
Manchester Confucius Institute public talks are free, informal and informative lectures aimed at anyone with an interest in Chinese culture and language.
