The Psalms of Taciturnity | The Butterfly Lovers

Hailed at its premiere as “a breakthrough in China’s symphonic music,” HE Zhanhao and CHEN Gang’s “Butterfly Lovers” Violin Concerto was later reviled during the Cultural Revolution for its Western influence and feudal Chinese inspiration. Though universally recognized among the Chinese people, the piece remains largely unknown in the West. A work of undeniable emotional appeal, it also carries with it a history that some of its biggest supporters are still struggling to digest. Borne of an uneasy union of revolutionary nationalist sentiment and Chinese urban cosmopolitanism, the musical progeny manages to be faithful to both its parents.

SHEN Ye, teaching Composition at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music is one of the most fascinating representatives of contemporary Music in China setting accessible Chinese culture to his own musical language. His works are performed all over in Asia, the U.S. and Europe. all over the world and this is the world premiere recording of his 1st Violin Concerto „The Psalms of Taciturnity“.

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Zhi-Jong Wang – she made her solo debut at the age of 14 with Orchestre national de Lille under Sir Yehudi Menuhin – proves once more an accomplished violinist. With a warm and colourful performance of the well-known violin concerto Butterfly Lovers and a very intense and exciting interpretation of Shen Ye’s fascinating concerto The Psalms of Taciturnity this new release is well worth listening. -- pizzicato