New York Philharmonic's Fourth Annual Chinese New Year Concert & Gala Set for Tonight

The New York Philharmonic, in collaboration with CAMI Music, will celebrate the Chinese New Year for the fourth consecutive year, this time welcoming the Year of the Sheep with a program of Chinese composers, musicians, and traditional instruments, celebrating the cultural heritage of China and honoring the Chinese-American community, tonight, February 24, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. Long Yu - music director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, artistic director and chief conductor of the China Philharmonic Orchestra, artistic director of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, and founding artistic director of the Beijing Music Festival - will return to the Philharmonic following his January subscription debut to conduct the Chinese New Year Concert for the fourth consecutive season.

This year's program will feature cellist Yo-Yo Ma and sheng player Wu Tong as the soloists in the U.S. Premiere of Zhao Lin's Duo for cello, sheng, and orchestra, written for Mr. Ma and Mr. Wu; Wu Tong performing Hai-Deng Yan's Jin Diao for sheng and orchestra; selections from Borodin's Prince Igor; aijieke (traditional Chinese bowed instrument) player Gulinaer Yiming performing Fantasia themes by Mukamu for aijieke and orchestra; and vocalist Lei Jia performing traditional Chinese folk songs. The Spring Festival Overture, Li Huanzhi's traditional work celebrating the Chinese New Year, will once again open the concert.

The Philharmonic's salute to the Year of the Sheep will also include a free outdoor event the afternoon of the concert at 4:30 p.m. on Lincoln Center's Josie Robertson Plaza featuring the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company performing the traditional Dragon Dance, as well as public school students from the National Dance Institute performing folk-inspired dances.

Gala events will include a pre-concert champagne reception from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., which will include a traditional Dragon Dance by the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company; the concert; and a seated dinner immediately following the performance. Gala dress will be traditional Chinese attire or black-tie. The Honorary Gala Chairmen are Mr. and Mrs. Maurice R. Greenberg, H.E. Ambassador Liu Jieyi, Mr. and Mrs. James D. Wolfensohn, and H.E. Consul-General Zhang Qiyue. The Gala Co-Chairmen are Angela Chen, Guoqing Chen and Ming Liu, Gary W. Parr, Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar L. Tang, and Shirley Young. The Starr International Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor of the Chinese New Year Gala.

Yo-Yo Ma will have also appeared with the Philharmonic and the Silk Road Ensemble the previous week, February 19-21, in a concert celebrating that ensemble's 15th anniversary.

As music director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Long Yu played a central role in the establishment of that orchestra's partnership with the New York Philharmonic to establish the Shanghai Orchestra Academy and Residency, part of the New York Philharmonic Global Academy.