"Love Notes" Concert English Introduction
The Yellow River Chorus will present their annual concert at 7:30pm at the Houston Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall on May, 9, 2015. The concert’s theme is “Love Notes”. We hope that the music of love is transmitted to all. This year’s program will consist of a solo, a small ensemble, instrumental music, and other pieces of choral works. Included is the monumental “The Butterfly Lover” (the Chinese equivalent of Romeo and Juliet) – a 20-minute choral work based on the scores of local Chinese operas and a later version of a violin concerto and it will be a grand representation of Chinese culture to the greater Houston area. Other songs include Love is a Many Splendored Thing, What a Wonderful World, Besame Mucho and Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head will be performed. Lastly it is with great pleasure and honor to introduce Mezzo Soprano Miss Jenny, Xin-Wei Zhang, an award winner from the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition as our guest soloist.
The story of “The Butterfly Lovers” is based on the score of a Yue opera (this opera originated in the Zhe Jiang province in southern China). Mr. He Zhan-Hao and Mr. Chen Gang composed one of the greatest pieces in traditional Chinese music - violin concerto “Liang Shan-Bo and Zhu Ying-Tai”( The Butterfly Lovers ) in 1959. Later on, Mr. He Mei (lyrics), Mr. Hu Zeng-Rong(arrangement), and Mr. Zhang Jun (piano accompaniment) adapted it into a grandiose choral work. A Chinese version of the Romeo and Juliet, “Liang-Zhu” retells a centuries-old story of a heart-wrenching love store.
This work can be divided into four major parts:
Introduction
The vast meadow is covered with colorful flowers, and a pair of butterflies dancing graceful in the sky, they are the symbol of the ever-lasting Mr. Liang Shan-Bo and Miss Zhu Ying-Tai.
I. In Love
Zhu disguised as a man went to study in Hangzhou. There she met a fellow student, Liang. For three years they studied together. Liang never suspected that Zhu was a girl and that she was in love with him.
II. Journey Home
Zhu was called home by her family. Liang accompanied her part of the way. Along the journey Zhu gave hints to Liang as to her affection toward him and that she was a girl. Liang oblivious to these subtle hints still treated her as a brother.
III. Rebel to Marriage
Upon returning home Zhu was informed by her father that she was to marry another. Zhu rebelled against the marriage. However, a father’s words cannot be challenged nor tradition broken. Zhu had no escape.
IV. Meeting at the Pavilion
Liang while at home heard that Zhu was a girl and was to be married. Heartbroken Liang hurried to be with Zhu. When they met Zhu revealed that she was truly a girl and was being forced to marry a man she did not love. She swore that she would rather die. Liang was in agony as there was nothing he could do.
Coda Death – Turning to Butterflies
Liang became seriously ill from the ordeal and died on Zhu’s wedding day. Passing by his tomb on the way to her wedding, Zhu ran towards his tomb as a sudden storm appeared. A bolt of lightning split the tomb open. Zhu jumped in and the tomb closed.
The storm passed and the flowers bloomed full as a rainbow arched across the sky. Two butterflies emerged from the tomb and danced among the flowers. – the blue is Liang and the red is Zhu.
Synopsis by Matthew Stein
The story of “The Butterfly Lovers” is based on the score of a Yue opera (this opera originated in the Zhe Jiang province in southern China). Mr. He Zhan-Hao and Mr. Chen Gang composed one of the greatest pieces in traditional Chinese music - violin concerto “Liang Shan-Bo and Zhu Ying-Tai”( The Butterfly Lovers ) in 1959. Later on, Mr. He Mei (lyrics), Mr. Hu Zeng-Rong(arrangement), and Mr. Zhang Jun (piano accompaniment) adapted it into a grandiose choral work. A Chinese version of the Romeo and Juliet, “Liang-Zhu” retells a centuries-old story of a heart-wrenching love store.
This work can be divided into four major parts:
Introduction
The vast meadow is covered with colorful flowers, and a pair of butterflies dancing graceful in the sky, they are the symbol of the ever-lasting Mr. Liang Shan-Bo and Miss Zhu Ying-Tai.
I. In Love
Zhu disguised as a man went to study in Hangzhou. There she met a fellow student, Liang. For three years they studied together. Liang never suspected that Zhu was a girl and that she was in love with him.
II. Journey Home
Zhu was called home by her family. Liang accompanied her part of the way. Along the journey Zhu gave hints to Liang as to her affection toward him and that she was a girl. Liang oblivious to these subtle hints still treated her as a brother.
III. Rebel to Marriage
Upon returning home Zhu was informed by her father that she was to marry another. Zhu rebelled against the marriage. However, a father’s words cannot be challenged nor tradition broken. Zhu had no escape.
IV. Meeting at the Pavilion
Liang while at home heard that Zhu was a girl and was to be married. Heartbroken Liang hurried to be with Zhu. When they met Zhu revealed that she was truly a girl and was being forced to marry a man she did not love. She swore that she would rather die. Liang was in agony as there was nothing he could do.
Coda Death – Turning to Butterflies
Liang became seriously ill from the ordeal and died on Zhu’s wedding day. Passing by his tomb on the way to her wedding, Zhu ran towards his tomb as a sudden storm appeared. A bolt of lightning split the tomb open. Zhu jumped in and the tomb closed.
The storm passed and the flowers bloomed full as a rainbow arched across the sky. Two butterflies emerged from the tomb and danced among the flowers. – the blue is Liang and the red is Zhu.
Synopsis by Matthew Stein