'Azure Canopy' Concert - '蔚蓝苍穹'音乐会

On the evening of the 30th of September 2024, the Azure Canopy concert, presented by the University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra, concluded successfully at St Matthew-in-the-City in Auckland. This musical feast not only offered the audience a seamless fusion of classical and contemporary music but also showcased the harmonious blend of the guzheng with Western orchestration, making it the artistic highlight of the night.

Under the meticulous baton of renowned conductor Jono Palmer, the concert opened with Mozart’s opera overture The Marriage of Figaro. Brimming with lively rhythms and dramatic tension, the orchestra’s precise and delicate performance ignited the audience’s enthusiasm, setting a bright and dynamic tone for the evening.

Next, the highly anticipated guzheng virtuoso Zheng Lin took to the stage for the world premiere of her newly composed work Azure Emergence, a piece for guzheng and orchestra. This marked not only a significant milestone in Zheng Lin’s journey as a PhD candidate at the University of Auckland’s School of Music but also the first collaboration between a Chinese instrument and the university’s symphony orchestra. Comprising full-time performance students and outstanding talents from various faculties, the orchestra demonstrated exceptional musical artistry.

Inspired by the traditional Chinese colour qing (a shade between blue and green), Azure Emergence unfolds across four movements, each skilfully depicting different elements of nature, guiding the audience on a cross-cultural musical journey. From the gentle hues of sky blue to the vibrant tones of turquoise, Zheng Lin’s masterful performance vividly captured the diverse spectrum of qing. Her seamless collaboration with the orchestra was nothing short of a perfect match—each note flowing effortlessly, carrying profound emotions that resonated deeply with the audience. As the final note lingered beneath the church’s vaulted ceiling, the audience erupted in prolonged and enthusiastic applause. Many attendees later shared that the piece had given them a newfound appreciation for the guzheng and a deeper understanding of the unique beauty of Chinese culture.

The evening’s grand finale was Brahms’ Symphony No. 4, a work of majestic structure and deep emotion. Under the orchestra’s skilful interpretation, its intricate melodies interwove layers of sentiment, leaving a profound impression and bringing the concert to a magnificent close.

Following the performance, one audience member reflected: "Azure Emergence felt like a journey through life itself—starting with the innocence of awakening, followed by the joys and pains of growth, then facing struggles and darkness, only to break free at last, soaring into the vast sky like a phoenix reborn in radiant glory." In response, Zheng Lin shared her thoughts: "As both a composer and guzheng player, I constantly strive for innovation and breakthroughs. Through my work, I hope to bring new life to traditional Chinese culture on the global stage." Her words not only reflected her dedication to musical exploration but also underscored the enduring vitality of Chinese culture in the international arts scene.

The success of this concert was made possible by the hard work of every participant, with special thanks to orchestra manager Mark Bennett, Head of Strings at the University of Auckland School of Music. A distinguished violinist and violist, and a former member of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Bennett’s wealth of experience and professional expertise ensured that every detail of the event was flawlessly executed. Notably, the concert was also fully recorded by SOUNZ, the Centre for New Zealand Music, preserving this musical spectacle as a lasting memory. This was not just a seamless fusion of Eastern and Western music but also a groundbreaking innovation in guzheng performance. Once again, through music, the brilliance of Chinese culture shone on the world stage, showcasing boundless artistic possibilities and aesthetic depth.

2024年9月30日晚，由奥克兰大学交响乐团呈现的“Azure Canopy—蔚蓝苍穹”音乐会在奥克兰市的St Matthew-in-the-City教堂圆满落幕。这场音乐盛宴不仅为观众们带来了古典与现代的完美融合，更见证了古筝与西方管弦乐的相得益彰，成为当晚最为瞩目的艺术焦点。

（古筝与交响乐的跨文化之旅 | 蔚蓝苍穹音乐会精选）在著名指挥家Jono Palmer的精心执棒下，音乐会以莫扎特的歌剧序曲《费加罗的婚礼》拉开序幕。此曲充满轻快的节奏与戏剧张力，乐团精准细腻的演绎点燃了观众的热情，为整场音乐会奠定了明快而生动的基调。

随后，备受瞩目的古筝演奏家郑琳携其全新创作的古筝与管弦乐作品《青出于蓝》闪亮登台，迎来全球首演。这不仅是郑琳作为奥克兰大学音乐学院博士候选人的重要里程碑，也标志着中国乐器首次与奥克兰大学交响乐团合作。乐团由全职表演专业学生以及来自各学院的优秀人才组成，展现了他们精湛的音乐造诣。

《青出于蓝》以中国传统色彩“青色”为灵感，通过四个乐章巧妙地展现了自然元素的多样风貌，将观众们引入了一场跨越东西方文化的音乐旅程。从柔和的天蓝色到明亮的绿松石色，郑琳以精湛的演奏技艺，将青色光谱的丰富变化展现得淋漓尽致。她与乐团的配合堪称天作之合，音符流转之间，情感悄然流淌，直击心灵，余韵悠长。当作品的最后一个音符在教堂穹顶悠然回响时，台下的观众报以经久不息的热烈掌声。演出结束后，不少观众表示，这部作品开启了他们对古筝的全新认知，深刻感受到中华文化的独特魅力。

音乐会的压轴曲目是勃拉姆斯的《第四交响曲》。这部作品结构宏伟、情感丰富，在乐团的演绎下，层次分明的旋律交织出深刻的情感，令人动容，为整场音乐会划上了一个恢弘壮丽的句号。

音乐会结束后，一位观众感慨道：“《青出于蓝》仿佛是一场生命的旅程。从初醒的懵懂，到成长中的痛苦与欢愉，再经历挫折与黑暗，最后挣脱桎梏，飞向广阔的天空，犹如凤凰涅槃般焕发出夺目的光辉。”对此，郑琳也分享了她的感受：“作为一名作曲人和古筝演奏者，我始终追求突破与创新，希望通过我的作品，让中国传统文化在国际舞台上绽放新的光彩。”她的言辞不仅展现了对音乐创作的不断探索，更彰显了中华文化在世界艺术舞台上的无限生命力。

此次音乐会的成功离不开每一位成员的辛勤付出，特别感谢乐团经理、奥克兰大学音乐学院弦乐系主任Mark Bennett在策划与协调中的卓越贡献。他不仅是一位资深的小提琴与中提琴演奏家，还是前奥克兰爱乐乐团的小提琴演奏家，他的丰富经验和专业能力确保了每一个细节都得以完美呈现。值得一提的是，本次音乐会还得到了新西兰音乐中心 (SOUNZ) 的全程录像支持，为这场音乐艺术的盛宴留下了永久的纪念。这不仅是中西音乐的完美融合，更是古筝艺术在当代的一次创新与突破。通过音乐，中华文化的璀璨光辉再次照耀世界舞台，展现出无限的艺术可能与美学张力。