In tune with the new year

Duo: Concerto for Cello & Sheng was composed by Zhao Lin on commission from the China Philharmonic Orchestra in 2013. The famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Chinese sheng player Wu Tong premiered the work with the CPO in its 2013 season.

The composer says that the concerto is based on the story of Monk Xuanzang's journey to the West in the Tang Dynasty. It is said Xuanzang suffered a lot along the way and finally obtained the Buddhist sutras.

Duo in Chinese Buddhism also means helping people to overcome suffering and reach final peace. So the music features both a Buddhist aura and many different local flavors along Xuanzang's journey from Tang capital Chang'an to the West, which is partly the same as the Silk Road.

"The wind instrument sheng was used for royal court and religious rituals in ancient China, and it is the instrument I think best interprets the Silk Road theme. The cello is the instrument representing human beings. So it's the dialogue between the gods and the people," Zhao says.

At the New Year Concert, Wu Tong will play sheng and the cello will be played by Zhao Yunpeng, the CPO's first cello.

Lang Lang will perform Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue; the jazzy piece is another perfect festival choice.

Both Lang Lang and Yu Long are Audi ambassadors. The New Year Concert is also the final concert of the 2014 Audi Music Season, which started in October and included Lang Lang's national tour.

"Music events all over the world need patrons. I really appreciate Audi's support for the development of classical music in China. The company not only gives us financial support but also shares with us its world resources, such as helping us to work with the Salzburg Festival," says Yu, who is also the founder and director of the annual Beijing Music Festival. Audi has been the main sponsor of that festival for many years.