The Butterfly Lovers Concerto was written in 1959 by He Zhan-hao and Chen Gang while they were students at the Shanghai Conservatory.
Compositional Technique
The violin in The Butterfly Lovers Concerto uses techniques of the Chinese string instrument, the er-hu, to emphasize the work's Chinese character.
Performer Biography
Fan Chengwu conducted the first performance of The Butterfly Lovers Concerto in 1959 at the Shanghai Spring Festival.
Notable Performances
The Shanghai Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, composed of staff and students, gave the first performance of The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto in 1959.
Performer Biography
Takako Nishizaki, one of Japan's leading violinists, is known in China as the most important performer and recording artist of Chinese violin music, having recorded The Butterfly Lovers six times.
Compositional Technique
The Butterfly Lovers Concerto, though written in sonata form, is strongly programmatic, narrating the Chinese folklore of Liang Shan-po and Zhu Ying-tai.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The Butterfly Lovers Concerto synthesizes Eastern and Western traditions, with melodies and style derived from Shanghai opera, conveying a light and calm mood.
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