Tan Dun

Tan Dun’s “Buddha Passion” promises to take your breath away. This monumental work, sung in Chinese and Sanskrit, will be performed by the Lanzhou Symphony Orchestra, the Lanzhou Concert Hall Choir and seven soloists (baritone Wang Yunpeng, mezzo-soprano Dong Fang, soprano Guo Sen, tenor Wang Chuanyue, pipa player Chen Yining and two indigenous singers). Tan will wield the baton. Chen will play the pipa while holding it behind her head like the dancers depicted in the Dunhuang murals.

Tan Dun. File photos

“Buddha Passion” weaves stories that have lived in the hearts and minds of the Oriental world for thousands of years. Inspired by the ancient city of Dunhuang and its awe-inspiring Mogao Caves, the music powerfully illustrates the lessons of Buddha. The Mogao Caves are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Inspired by the powerful history of the spiritual and cultural exchange offered by the contents of the Mogao Caves, as well as the groundbreaking musical history discovered in the Dunhuang murals from the fourth to the 14th century, Tan spent two years locating, visiting, researching, and documenting the lost musical manuscripts from the Dunhuang Library Cave. His fascination with the manuscripts and the countless hours of research to translate and unearth “the ancient sounds of Dunhuang” culminate in this ambitious new work, weaving chants, stories, and sounds of Dunhuang into an oratorio of six individual short stories. Capturing the ancient narratives of the Buddha’s teachings and the timeless, universal concepts of love, forgiveness, sacrifice and salvation, Tan summarizes the stories portrayed on the walls of the Mogao Caves in an extraordinary and unique musical work.

Time: 8 p.m., Jan. 6

Tickets: 280-2,280 yuan

Chang Sisi

Chinese coloratura soprano Chang Sisi and guest performers Li Yuanwei and Ma Teng will present a night of classical Chinese and Western songs.

Chang Sisi. Photo by Liu Xudong

Time: 8 p.m., Jan. 7

Tickets: 100-580 yuan

Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Orchestra

Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Orchestra will present Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 1,” “Symphony No. 3” (second movement) and “Symphony No. 5.”

Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Orchestra 

Time: 8 p.m., Jan. 9

Tickets: 180-480 yuan

Booking: WeChat account “szyyt_piao”

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (福田區深圳音樂廳)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宮站), Exit D