Vijay Upadhayaya, the first Indian to compose classical western music on Chinese cultural themes, will be presenting his 60-member orchestra at a Beijing auditorium on 14 november. The composition, which Upadhayaya will present, was commissioned by the government backed China National Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
"on 13 Nov, we will present symphonic music for large orchestra that reflect Chinese philosophy and use some of the Chinese musical instruments," Upadhyaya told "We will also use the traditional way of Chinese singing where music follows the tones of the language."
Lucknow-born Upadhyaya will conduct it with 90 musicians in the orchestra and 70 singers in the chorus. Almost all of them are Chinese barring 11 Europeans, who joined him from Vienna. Upadhyaya will present a 75-minute symphony, Chang'an Men, which traces Chinese musical traditions in different states of history and an opera.
"We will present an opera which goes back to Chinese vocal traditions, which has been neglected for decades until recent years," the composer said.
Chang'an Men incorporates compilations by Confucius, 6th century poems from The Book of Songs called Shi Jing, a traditional Nanyin song, and text written by Chinese sage Lao Tse.
