In the afternoon of Apr. 13, 2016, the press conference of 33rd Shanghai Spring International Music Festival was held in Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Xu Shuya, Chairman of Shanghai Musicians Association and Vice Director of Organization Committee of 33rd SSIMF, Xin Lili, Chairman of Shanghai Dancers Association and Vice Director of Organization Committee of 33rd SSIMF, Wang Yiqun, Deputy Secretary of CPCC of Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Leader of Discipline Inspection Group and Secretary General (Executive) of Organization Committee of 33rd SSIMF, Wu Xiaoming, Art Director of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film&TV and Vice Director of Organization Committee of 33rd SSIMF, and Liao Changyong, Vice President of Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Secretary General of SSIMF presented at the conference.

It is reported that, the 33rd Shanghai Spring International Music Festival sponsored jointly by Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV, Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles and Shanghai Media & Entertainment Group (SMG), and organized jointly by Shanghai Musicians Association, Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Shanghai Oriental Broadcasting Center, will be held from Apr. 28, 2016 to May 18, 2016.

As music and dance festival with the longest history in New China, a lot of classical works have been composed in SSIMF, such as Ode to Red Flag, Butterfly Lovers, White-haired Girl， etc, and many famous artist in modern music and dance field have been cultivated, such as Zhu Jianer, Lv Qiming, He Zhanhao, Chen Gang, Yu Lina, Min Huifen, Hu Rongrong, Ling Guiming, Liao Changyong, Xin Lili, Luo Xiaoci and Duan Aiai, etc.

The Festival takes “Promotion of New Artist and New Works” as tenet, and displays its features such as Classic, Internationalization, Originality and Times. During the music festival, more than ten music bands and artists fromChina,America,Germany,Britain,Switzerlandand South Korea etc will bring us 51 brilliant music and dance performances, including 42 music performances and 9 dance performances.

Promoting New Artist and New Works, Motivating Originality of Creation

The Festival dedicates to promoting creation of music and dance works, motivating the growth of famous artists, so as to display the original vitality ofShanghaimusic and dance. 13 original performances and 6 excellent young artist special performances will be held in the Festival.
In the aspect of music, the performances will center on the concept of “new”: New Dream on Sea X – “Fantasy of Silk Road” Orchestral and Vocal Music Works Concert has invited famous composer Xu Mengdong, Zhou Xianglin, Ye Guohui, Wen Deqing and Xia Liang, etc to create a series of original works which reflect the customs, historical vicissitude and prospects of the silk road region, and display rich implication of the theme of Fantasy of Silk Road fully. New Dream on Sea – Guangdong National Orchestra Concert is created jointly by Zhao Jiping, Jing Jianshu, Han Lankui, Fang Xiaomin, Zhang Xiaofeng, Lan Chengbao, etc, to display beautiful scenery along New Silk Road. These performances are to display deep understanding of to modern artists on New Silk Road and the close relationship, fusion and exchange between various cities and nations alongOne Belt and One Road. The original music drama Melody on Sea, with the times background of Anti-fascist War and Anti-Japanese War in the early of 20th Century, through narration of Jews and Chinese fighting for world peace in on Anti-Japanese War, eulogize the deep international friendship and true feelings of the two nations.

Splendid Oriental Dream – Shanghai Chinese Orchestra 2016-2017 Performance Season Opening Concert and Spring Rhythm IV – Folk Concerto Special Concert of Shanghai Conservatory of Musicwill present the exploration in diversity of music creation by the new generation. The ballad song special performance of five excellent young folk song soloists of Shanghai Song and Dance Troupe, young pianist Song Siheng‘s special performance, “Yusi Class” Piano Scholarship and 2016 National Youth Piano Talent E-show Concert, Special Concert of Shanghai Winners in International Cello Competition, will dedicate to improving social influence of young artists, and provide a stage for gifted new artists in music filed.

In the aspect of dance, excellent dance works from professional dance troupes in Shanghai will be performed, such as Shanghai Dance Youth Choreographer Experimental Theatre, “Language of Dance, Collection of Elegance” Special Dance Performance, large poetic dance Red, original modern ballet Song of Everlasting Regret, etc will be presented. The creation capability and performing level of dance inShanghaiwill be displayed as well. Meanwhile, East China Professional Dance Performance Exhibition will be held during the Festival, and the dance associations in East China will select excellent dance works to perform inShanghai, so as to provide opportunities of display, exchange and mutual learning for artists in the dance creation and performance inEast China.

Inheritance of Classic Work, Megamix of Noted Bands and Artists

 “Shanghai Spring”, with a glory history of 57 years, has promoted numerous original new works and masterpieces, cultivated a lot of excellent music and dance masters, eulogized deep love to people and motherland with shiny notes and beautiful dances. In the Festival, 18 classic performances will be held.

On Apr. 28, Classical, Inheritance – Concert of Excellent Works of SSIMFs will be performed as prologue of 33rd Shanghai Spring International Music Festival in Concert Hall of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. The Concert will select excellent works incubated in stage of previous “Shanghai Spring”, such as symphonic poem Ode to Red Flag, violin concerto Butterfly Lovers, Sketch of Guizhou Mountains, Second Erhu Rhapsody, and Winter Snow created for oboe solo, trio percussions, and harp and orchestra. These works include excellent symphonic poem which eulogizes revolutionary spirit of bravery and indomitability, violin concerto which symbolizes exchange and fusion of national culture, symphony suite depicting beautiful rivers and mountains of motherland, and excellent national instrumental work which displays virtuosity and the compositing concept to absorb essences of the east and west music. The solo players include Chen Jiayi, who won Gold Award in 10thChinese Music Golden Bell Award Violin Competition, and Lu Yiwen, who won Excellent New Artist Performance Prize in 32nd SSIMF and Gold Award in 10thChinese Music Golden Bell Award Erhu Competition. Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, with reputation of “Noted Orchestra of Century”, will accompany by the concert, which increases the classical temperament of the concert.

At the night of the opening day, ballet White-haired Girl will be performed in Shanghai Grand Theater. From the initial script of White-haired Girl created by Tian Han, to the ballet of same name inShanghai, and to the world-famous masterpiece, it has a glory history, coagulated with efforts and talents ofShanghaiartists for several generations. This play once won Award of Twentieth Century Dance Classics of Chinese Nation, and has been performed for several generations, and thus cultivated ballet performing artists such as Ling Guiming, Shi Zhongqin, Xin Lili and Mao Huifang, etc. This will be the 2000th performance, chief performers of Shanghai Ballet Fan Xiaofeng and Wu Husheng will playing the roles of White-haired Girl and Da Chun separately, and main performer Li Chenchen will play the role of Xi Er. The audiences will feel preciseness and persistent pursuit of new-generation performers in inheritance of classic.

In addition, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Light Music Orchestra, Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, Shanghai Opera House, Shanghai Ballet, Shanghai Song and Dance Troupe and Huang Mengla, Huang Ying, which are famous Chinese artists and bands active in domestics and abroad music field, will bring us 17 classical performances.

In order to pay tribute to masters and encourage the artistic pursuit, 3 “Tribute to Masters” series activities will be pushed out in this year: 1. Devotion to Motherland –Lv Qiming Works Special Concert will be held in Shanghai Grand Theatre on May 9, 2016, performed by Shanghai Baroque Barbershop Quartet, Zuo Yiwei and other young musicians, and Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra. As the concert for masterpieces of Mr. Lv Qiming in 70 years of creation career, it displays the moving efforts and great achievement ofShanghaimusicians (represented by Mr. Lv Qiming) in creating excellent works, with Chinese Spirit as Soul and People as Center. It reflects mental outlook of Shanghai Literature andArt Circlein carrying forward Chinese Spirit, spreading Chinese Spirit, uniting Chinese forces. 2. Zhao Jiping Works Concert will be held in Shanghai Grand Theater on May 6, 2016, Symphony Orchestra of Shanghai Opera House and young conductor Lin Daye, famous singer Liao Changyong, Zhang Ningjia, etc will cooperate to perform the excellent original works of Chinese composer Zhao Jiping, such as Silk Road Music Moment, Parting with Dong Da, etc. Mr. Zhao Jiping roots in the people and lives, absorbs essence of the Chinese music into his excellent music works. The performance of teachers and students from Shanghai Conservatory of Music with deep emotion delivers sincere veneration ofShanghaimusicians to the musician of people and his creation career. 3. Everlasting Flute Tune— Memorial Concert for the Flute Master Yu Xunfa will be held in Sennheiser Shanghai Concert Hall on Apr. 28, 2016 which is review Mr. Yu Xun’s classical works, cherish the memory of sage and explore the true meaning of art. Yu-school “New Scholar Bamboo Flute Music” has rich achievements and striking art features, full of attachment ofShanghaifolk musicians to the art of motherland.

 “Splendour of Spring” – Huang Ying’s Solo Concert will be held in Shanghai Oriental Art Center on Apr. 30, 2016, as new generation of “China’s Nightingale”, Huang Ying inherits the art track of predecessors such as Zhou Xiaoyan and Ju Xiufang, at the same time, she has different path of growth, which gives more highlight to the valuable quality and art achievement of “China’s Nightingale” in adherence to national spirit and being world-famous musician.

Huang Mengla’s Violin Recital will be held in Sennheiser Shanghai Concert Hall on May 1, 2016 which transmits miraculous chord rhyme of Oriental "Paganini". Huang Mengla, who is a representative violinist fromShanghai, has won many big awards in the world, but remains attached toShanghaiand SSIMF.

Special Concert for Military Band of Chinese People's Liberation will be held in Concert Hall of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra on May 2, 2016, this band has participated in Shanghai Spring successively for many years, has many special stories with Shanghai Spring International Music Festival,Shanghaimusic circle andShanghaiaudiences.

Opera Music Works Concert will be held in Sennheiser Shanghai Concert Hall on May 5, 2016, with heavy national flavors in opera music, it has unique charisma in the international music festival which gathers many domestic and foreign famous bands and artists.

Classics of Chinese Piano Music: A Century Retrospect Performance Exhibition I & II will be held in He Luting Concert Hall on May 9 and 10 separately. The Exhibition will use piano melodies to eulogizeChina, and display the extraordinary courses of generations of Chinese piano composers and players (such as Zhao Yuanren, He Luting, Fu Cong and Li Mingqiang, etc) in pursuing organic integration of Chinese culture with western music and ranking among the top piano artists in the world.

Other performances such as Mozart's Salon Masterpieces — Collection of Sonatas for Piano and Violin, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra 2015-2016 Music Season Masters and Classical Series <Russian Heroic Duo Symphony Concert, Maurice Rave's One-Art Opera Spanish Time Concert performed by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, which displays the communication and cooperation of spiritual culture between China and western countries through the art conversation.

In the aspect of dance, two classical performances will be held, including dance drama Crested Ibis held in Majestic Theater on Apr. 30 to May 1, 2016, which displays the purity, elegance, cleanness and nobleness of crested ibis, and highlight the concept of harmony coexistence between the human and the nature. Recollection·Innovation –Collection of Dance Masterpieces in Shanghai will be held in Majestic Theater on May 18, which intensively displays the masterworks of Shanghai from 1950 to 2015, including White-haired Girl, Small Swords Society, Dances of the Dynasties, Wild Zebra, Red Clouds over the Horizon, Jane Eyre, Flying to Moon, etc, Shanghai Song and Dance Troupe, Dance Troupe of Shanghai Opera House, Shanghai Ballet, Shanghai Dancing School and Youth Dance Troupe of Shanghai Theater Academy will display their remarkable skills and dancing posture of Shanghai style.

International Cultural Exchange, Virtuosity of Domestic and Foreign Masters

Shanghai Spring International Music Festival advocates the reference the exotic essence of art while absorbing excellent Chinese traditional culture, and provides the platform for successful practice. In this year, 13 special performances form the foreign countries have been introduced this year.

The classical original musical My Fair Lady will be held in Daning Theater on Apr. 29 to May 3, presided by Chris Karsten and Aurora Florence. This drama has occupied a vital position in the world’s music drama history, ever won six prizes of Tony Award, the highest honor in drama field. It is significant to introduce My Fair Lady successfully this time and to perform it in Daning Theater, most audiences of which are from working class, which further reinforce the pattern that SSIMF introduces more world-famous music troupes and artists greatly.

Concert of Swiss Romande Orchestra will be performed in Shanghai Grand Theater on Apr. 30, 2016. The Orchestra won many important awards in the world, and has a deep origin with Shanghai Grand Theater, especially the performance is in memory for Shakespeare’s death for 400 years, and thus significant.

American Orchestra 2001 Chamber Orchestra Concert will be held in Concert Hall of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra on May 4, 2016. the Orchestra is good at performing masterpieces of modern music such as avant-garde type. Their performance in 33rd SSIMF will be import display for modern world’s new music works, and it also displays the attention and exploration ofShanghaiin modern world music creation.

Art of Fugue, performed by Keller String Quartet, will be held in Concert Hall of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra on May 6, which will deliver a feast of Art of Fugue, which is one of three masterpieces of Bach in his later period, as for audiences, it is a valuable opportunity to study the Bach’s music philosophy. In which, it will bring out a unique feeling through superb performance of Keller String.

The masters of Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and the classical series of Russian Heroic Duo will be put on inShanghaiOrientalArtCenteron May 6. The highlights of which shall be the representative works of Scriabin performed by Chief Performer of London Philharmonic who is violin solo player in the first half. This work was planned to be premiered inOrientalArtCenterin 2015, then it will be premiered finally in the first cooperation ofShanghai, Shanghai Spring and “Chief Performers” fromChinaand foreign countries.

Mywng-Whun Chung Piano Recital will be held in Concert Hall of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra on May 7, Master Mywng-Whun Chung is versatile, and is rare to perform piano recital. In recent years, he has cooperated withShanghaimusicians widely, and made remarkable achievements.

Concert ofBritishAncientMusicAcademywill be held in He Luting Concert Hall on May 7. The Orchestra will perform a lot of classical music, which enable audiences to experience the Orchestra’s classical concept in the appreciation of classical music.

Super Tenor Jose Kula Shanghai Concert will be held inShanghaiOrientalArtCenteron May 13. Jose Kula takes an extraordinary position in modern music filed, famous for conducting in his singing. 

Ravel's one-act opera Spain Time will be held in Concert Hall of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra on May 14, which will be accompanied by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and it is different from the pure music performance and operas accompanied by other symphony orchestras.

Memorial Concert of 260th Birthday of Mozart—Miraculous String Voice from Isabelle Perrin as Queen Harpist will be held inShanghaiOrientalArtCenteron May 14. The Harp Queen will present her excellent harp skills, at the same time, Chinese flute player and symphony orchestra will join the concert as well.

3 concerts of Central Asia series will be performed on May 11, 12 and 15, the traditional instruments bands and dance troupes from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan etc will represent the unique and charming musical and dancing culture, display to eep understanding of modern artists on “New Silk Road” and the close relationship, exchange and fusion between various cities and nations along One Belt and One Road.

The Festival will be closed in Music Hall of Shanghai Oriental Art Center in the evening of May 18, 2016, and the closing concert will be performed by Iran Tehran Symphony Orchestra. The Orchestra was established in 1933, has been cooperated with many famous musicians, such as Yehudi Menuhin and Isaac Stern, etc. Since 2005, Ali ? Lage Barry, who was original Chief Conductor of Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, is Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Orchestra. In the concert, masterpieces such as Stravinsky’sFirebird, Berlioz’s Fantastic Symphony, etc and a work created by anIrancomposer will be performed, which will make a magnificent ending for the music festival.

Promotion of Art Education, Improvement of Citizen's Quality

During the Festival, 3 forums and 3 festivals in SSIMF will be held, and the platform for publicity of art education will be set up so as to make positive contribution to improvement citizen's quality.

Seminar on Century Retrospect of Chinese Piano Music Classic will be held in Shanghai Conservatory of Music from May 10 to 11, which will make a deep exploration on the “imported” piano music and its fusion with Chinese national soul, and to represent the successful path of Chinese musicians in learning excellent piano art from the west and fusing them into profound Chinese traditional culture for nearly a century. It encourages contemporary artists to take the path of integrating the west elements with Chinese art for innovation and prosperity of Chinese literature and art, explores a new frontier and level of Chinese piano music.

Seminar on Excellent Original Music will be held in Shanghai Literature and Art Hall on May 16, in this seminar, deep analysis will be made on excellent original music works presented in the Festival, and research will be made on appraisal of results of SSIMF in promoting development of original music and pertinent opinions. We hope to reach peak of original music and dance art by dint of profound Chinese culture.

Music Drama Development Forum will be held inCulture  Squareon Apr. 23 to 28. As the new platform for performance of excellent music dramas,Culture Squarehas many successful practices in introducing excellent music dramas in recent years, which centrally reflects new measures and new trend ofShanghaiin constructing the performance and creation highland of international classical music drama.

China Horn –Wind Music Festival of 33rd SSIMF will be held in Zhengda Stadium of Fudan University, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Century Square in East Road of Nanjing and Hudong Workers Cultural Palace from Apr. 28 to May 5, and the excellent wind music troupes from China and overseas will bring us Opening Ceremony and Wind Evening Party, Wind Music Carnival, Closing Ceremony and Large Wind Music Concert, Excellent Wind Exhibition, and Wind Music in Campus, which will deliver a feast of wind music for Shanghai. The Wind Music Festival has developed into the wind music ceremony with international influence, 9th session will be held in this year.

MINI Musical Festival – Baroque British-style UK Britten Sinfonietta Concert will be held in Sennheiser Shanghai Concert Hall on May 6 to 8, which will be performed by UK Britten Sinfonietta under the theme of “Rendezvous between Baroque and England”, and the audiences in Shanghai will gain a overview of 300-years England music through 3 performances, 3 lectures and 1 harpsichord workshop.

In Opening Week of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the Conservatory will hold a series of concert and lectures in He Luting Concert Hall, Small Music Hall of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, North Building Lecture Hall, Academic Hall, classrooms and Shanghai Concert Hall, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Concert Hall of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Shanghai Grand Theatre, etc. These activities can be reserved free of charge, displaying the function of universities to serve the society.