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The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will host its inaugural Lunar New Year concert at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Friday night as it works to present programming that attracts a wider audience.
The concert is the latest of several by the BSO as it tries to shape Meyerhoff Hall, where the orchestra holds most of its performances, into a “A Hall for All.”
The BSO chose to produce a concert focused on Lunar New Year because it is one of the biggest celebrations in Asian culture, said Whitney Brown, BSO director of communications. The day celebrates the beginning of the lunisolar calendar, with 2023 being the year of the rabbit — a year characterized by luck, according to Chinesenewyear.net.
“This program is another initiative that blends audiences and diversifies our programming,” Brown said. “Reaching all cultures and people who make up the city of Baltimore and the state of Maryland is essential to take things in a route we haven’t explored.”
The orchestra tapped in-house cellist Bo Li to serve as the artistic advisor for the program.
Li, who is of Chinese descent, said he was excited about participating and recognized the responsibility to ensure the representation would be as authentic as possible.
“I wanted everybody to have the full experience,” he said. “I didn’t want just one performance and everybody goes home. That’s why we will have costume runway shows and authentic Asian food available and more, so it’s a real experience.”
Before the Lunar New Year performance, the Meyerhoff lobby will be filled with pre-concert celebrations starting at 6:30 p.m. Activities will include a traditional Chinese women’s costume runway show, Korean Han Pan and Korean Steppingstone drum performances, a Chinese instrument display and a petting zoo. Food from local restaurant partners will be also be available for purchase.
The concert, which begins at 8 p.m., will feature Yue Bao, assistant conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra, leading the BSO in a performance of works by Dvořák, Huanzhi, and Mozart, among others. Stella Chen, winner of the Queen Elisabeth International Competition, and international opera star Hyesang Park will also perform.
Following the concert, 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.
Jean Xu, president of Chinese American Parent Association of Howard County, Maryland, said she is glad that Asian Americans are getting more recognition through the concert.
“I have seen the information for the Lunar New Year concert program circling around WeChat, which is the most popular social media platform among Chinese immigrants, and everybody is filled with joy just talking about it,” she said. “Maryland is very diverse so I’m glad to see us be celebrated and no longer invisible.”
The BSO has held several other concerts that promote diversity, including the second season of conductor Steve Hackman’s fusion series, which blends classical with more modern forms of music. Shows have paired Russian composer Tchaikovsky with hip-hop artist Drake, Beethoven with Beyoncé, Lady Gaga with Brahms, Bruno Mars with Bach, and Wagner with Adele.
“For many people in our community, Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays of the year,” said Mark C. Hanson, president and CEO of the BSO, “and we’re so thrilled to host a celebration of such cultural significance.”
taji.burris@thebaltimorebanner.com
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Taji Burris has covered the Baltimore music scene since 2015 for outlets such as The Working Title and The 4th Quarter, and now at the Baltimore Banner.
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