Lunar New Year 2023
with the Minnesota OrchestraSat Jan 28, 2023
Orchestra Hall
The Minnesota Orchestra marks the 2023 Lunar New Year, and the Year of the Rabbit, with a performance featuring music that honors family traditions and themes of unity and health.
This program is presented as part of The Great Northern.
We express our deepest sympathies for those killed, injured or traumatized on January 21 at a dance studio near a Lunar New Year celebration in the Los Angeles suburb of Monterey Park. We join the Monterey Park community and the world in mourning this tragedy that marred the joy, unity, and traditions that are celebrated by many Asian cultures on this holiday, which marks the arrival of spring and the togetherness of family. In our concert this Saturday we will strive to embrace the joy of Lunar New Year traditions while also recognizing the loss and tragedy of this past weekend’s shooting.
A Few Things to Know
- This performance marks the Minnesota Orchestra's second Lunar New Year celebration and we're thrilled to welcome back conductor Junping Qian.
- Though China has officially moved to the Gregorian calendar like much of the rest of the world, the lunar calendar remains central to major holidays, just like the Lunar New Year.
- Celebrations for the Lunar New Year and surrounding Spring Festival can last up to 16 days, making it the longest Chinese holiday observed.
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TAN
Internet Symphony “Eroica”
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SHIN
Mountain
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ROSSINI
"Largo al factotum," from The Barber of Seville
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TENG/Lee
Bāng Chhun-hong
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LEE
Kampong Overture
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LIU/Mao
Dance of the Yao People -
WANG
Erhu Rhapsody No. 2
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KREISLER/McAlister
Tambourin Chinois
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BAO
Selections from Chinese Sights and Sounds
Artists
Minnesota Orchestra
Junping Qian
conductor
Yiwen Lu
erhu
Joo Won Kang
baritone
Roz Tsai
host
The Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra, now in its second century, ranks among America’s top symphonic ensembles, with a distinguished history of acclaimed performances in its home state and around the world; award-winning recordings, broadcasts and educational engagement programs; and a commitment to intentionally build concert programs to feature more works by composers of color, exploring music both contemporary and historic. This past fall, Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård began his tenure as music director.
Junping Qian, who is now in his third year of leading the Minnesota Orchestra’s Lunar New Year celebration, served as assistant conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra from 2018 to 2020 and was a visiting faculty member at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Yiwen Lu is one of the most well-known Erhu players in China. She is the council member of the Bowed Stringed Instruments Committee under China Musicians Association as well as the Erhu Committee under the China Nationalities Orchestra Society. She is currently teaching Erhu in Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Her major awards include the Gold Medal of the 10th Golden Bell Award Erhu Competition in 2015 (the highest award in any Chinese instrument competition) and the 4th Wenhua Prize, the Erhu Youth Group's highest performance award in 2012.
South Korean baritone Joo Won Kang made his Metropolitan Opera debut last season as Marcello in La Bohème. He also appeared in the company’s new production of Don Carlos. He has appeared in leading roles such as Figaro in The Barber of Seville, Germont in La Traviata, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Dandini in La Cenerentola, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, the title role in Eugene Onegin and Ping in Turandot with opera companies throughout the U.S. Among them are San Francisco Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Arizona Opera, Wolf Trap Opera and Utah Opera.
Dr. Benhong Rosaline Tsai, now in her third year of hosting the Minnesota Orchestra’s Lunar New Year concerts, is a global talent management executive who has held transformative leadership roles in multiple Fortune 500 organizations such as Ecolab, Honeywell and Xcel Energy. She currently serves as Vice President of Talent, Learning, and Org Effectiveness at Thrivent, a Fortune 500 financial services firm based in Minneapolis.
Plan your visit
- Pre-concert activities
- Valet Parking
- Pre-order Beverages
- Directions & Parking
- Helpful Tips
Chinese Traditional Music and Dance Performance
When: Sat Jan 28 | 6:45 and 7:20 PM
Where: N. Bud Grossman Mezzanine & Target Atrium
Enjoy a variety of traditional and modern Asian dances, along with instrumental and vocal music presented by CAAM Chinese Dance Theater, Hua Xing Arts Groups of Minnesota, Yinghua Academy, and more. Presented in partnership with the Alliance of Chinese Culture and Arts.
Know Before You Go
An engaging performance awaits, and the fun doesn’t stop there. Make this visit your own with food and activity options. Browse these helpful tips, and when your concert date arrives, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy.
Directions & Parking
All the information you need to know for getting to and from Orchestra Hall. Parking is just steps away from Orchestra Hall in the city-owned and skyway-connected 11th and Marquette Ramp.
Pre-order beverages
Skip the lines at the bar! Pre-order your intermission beverage via the MN Orch App when you arrive at Orchestra Hall.
Accessibility Services
- Armless & Bariatric Chairs
- Assistive Listening Devices
- Large-Print Programs
- Noise-Cancelling Headphones
- Service Animals
- Wheelchair & Accessible Seating
Additional services are available upon request.
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