The "Flowing Notes" concert series, a new artistic initiative by the Hongkou District Culture and Tourism Bureau, was launched to establish the Hongkou music brand and enhance the North Bund Art Shoreline.
The inaugural concert of the 2024 North Bund "Flowing Notes" series was held at the Grand Hall on the North Bund.
At the event, young composer Luo Wei themed the concert "Dreaming at the North Bund." Through segments like "Strolling in Shanghai," "The Warmth of Music," "Memories of the North Bund," and "Dreaming at the North Bund," Luo used the piano to guide the audience through the urban essence of Shanghai, capturing the century-old charm of the city.
Luo, who recently premiered his symphonic poem "Ode to Peace" at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for "UN Chinese Language Day," has since dedicated his efforts to the post-production and rehearsal of the "Hongkou Symphony Concerto."
The concert featured three original compositions: the ensemble piece "Strolling on Zhapu Road," the invited saxophonist Li Shihai's performance of "Nocturne," and the concerto "A Day: Riverside Sunset Dialogue."
With the flowing notes, the audience was transported back to the city's healing moments: from the blossoms on Zhapu Road to the plane trees on Hengshan Road, from the evening ferry at 7pm to the private whispers at the riverside sunset, from the spring and summer of the Grand Hall to the dawn and dusk of the Suzhou Creek.
The concert not only provided a delightful auditory feast but also immersed the audience in the urban landscape along the Huangpu River. It also marked the beginning of Luo's forthcoming full performance of the "Hongkou Symphony Concerto: Dream of the North Bund."
After a year of preparation and creation, Luo's work is nearing completion.
The work is divided into nine chapters, including the romantic and splendid "Dream of the North Bund" and "Nocturne," the narrative "Sunset Suzhou Creek," depictions of urban life on Zhapu Road and Sichuan Road N., and the historical reflection "Opening 1927: To Lu Xun."
The "Flowing Notes" concert series is a continuation of last year's "Rooftop Concerts" at the North Bund, once again establishing the North Bund as a vibrant music hub.