Chinese New Year concert at Orchestra Hall to feature China National Peking Opera Company and Hubei Chime Bells National Chinese Orchestra, February 12

- Preconcert performances and activities will take place throughout the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center

Detroit, (January 31, 2019) – In celebration of Chinese New Year, the China National Peking Opera Company and Hubei Chime Bells National Chinese Orchestra will perform a one-night-only concert in Orchestra Hall, home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO).

The China National Peking Opera Company will present a dazzling combination of vocal artistry, costumes, and acrobatics in three classic scenes. The Hubei Chime Bells National Chinese Orchestra will open the concert, performing a program on modern replicas of the ancient imperial bells of China.

The concert takes place Tuesday, February 12 at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and preconcert activities will take place throughout the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

These include:

- Tai Chi demonstrations (from Michigan Tai Chi Center) 

 - Chinese martial arts demonstrations (from Anshinkan Dojo) 

- A Chinese yo-yo demonstration (from Michigan New Century Chinese School) 

- Chinese folk dancing (from American Chinese School of Metro Detroit)

- Chinese paper cutting (from American Chinese School of Metro Detroit)

Tickets are on sale now for the concert. All tickets are general admission, with no seating assigned. All preconcert activities are free to ticketholders. Please see below for more ticket information.

The event is presented by China Arts & Entertainment Group and Michigan-China Innovation Center, in partnership with North American Chinese Coalition, Chinese Association of Greater Detroit, Chinese School Association in Michigan, Detroit Chinese Business Association, APIA News Network - Dragon Eagle TV, American Chinese School of Greater Detroit, Michigan New Century Chinese School, and Ann-Hua Chinese School. The DSO wishes to thank Acting Consul General Jun Liu of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago for his office’s continued partnership and support.

Please note: the DSO does not appear on this performance.

About China National Peking Opera Company

China National Peking Opera Company, founded in 1955, is a Beijing-based national ensemble of China. The Company comprises three troupes; of these, Troupe One is lauded for its long-established mastery of both traditional and contemporary repertoire.

The main body of Troupe One consists of several celebrated starts, including Yu Kuizhi (praised as the leading figure of contemporary Beijing opera), Li Shengsu, Tuo Zhiguo, Guan Bo, Ma Xiangfei, Zhang Jing, Chen Guosen, Liu Kuikui, Guo Yaoyao, Pan Yuejiao, Wang Yue, and Du Zhe. The Troupe also includes a younger generation of performers who have already made their mark in the Chinese cultural scene, and regularly works with top guest talent.

Troupe One frequently tours mainland China and has visited countries throughout Asia and the world to promote Chinese culture on a global scale. The current director of Troupe One is Li Shengsu.

About Hubei Provincial Opera and Dance Drama Theatre / Hubei Chime Bells National Chinese Orchestra

Hubei Provincial Opera and Dance Drama Theatre is a professional performing arts organization that produces and performs opera, traditional music, dance, and music of the symphonic repertoire. The Theatre consists of an opera troupe, a dance drama troupe, a symphony orchestra (the Hubei Symphony Orchestra), a national orchestra (Hubei Chime Bells National Chinese Orchestra), a production and research institute, an art school, and more. Since a transformation and restructuring in 2011, it is now affiliated with Hubei Provincial Performing Arts Group.

For the past 50 years, the Theatre has passionately advocated for the national and traditional culture of China, while constantly seeking innovation in the performing arts world. They have produced and performed a large number of notable works: the large-scale national opera The Honghu Red Guards (the quintessential 20th century Chinese opera), the dance drama Lotus Ode, the opera Sakura, the musical The Three Gorges, the music and dance performance The Chimes Ring in Chutian, and many others.

Ticket Information

Tickets are available at dso.org, by calling (313) 576-5111, or in-person at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center Box Office (3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit).

Tickets are $20 and general admission, meaning no seats may be reserved and that all seating is first-come, first-served. Please contact the Box Office with questions about accommodating patrons who require special seating.

About the DSO

The most accessible orchestra on the planet, the acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra is known for trailblazing performances, collaborations with the world’s foremost musical artists, and a deep connection to its city. As a community-supported orchestra, generous giving by individuals and institutions at all levels drives the continued success and growth of the institution. Conductor Leonard Slatkin, who recently concluded an acclaimed decade-long tenure at the helm, now serves as the DSO’s Music Director Laureate, endowed by the Kresge Foundation. Celebrated conductor, arranger, and trumpeter Jeff Tyzik is the orchestra’s Principal Pops Conductor, while the outstanding trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard holds the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair. Making its home at historic Orchestra Hall within the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, the DSO offers a performance schedule that features Classical, PNC Pops, Paradise Jazz, and Young People’s Family Concert series. One of America’s most acoustically perfect concert halls, Orchestra Hall will celebrate its centennial in 2019-2020. In addition, the DSO presents the William Davidson Neighborhood Concert Series in seven metro area venues, as well as a robust schedule of eclectic multi-genre performances in its mid-size venue The Cube, constructed and curated with support from Peter D. & Julie F. Cummings. A dedication to broadcast innovation began in 1922, when the DSO became the first orchestra in the world to present a radio broadcast and continues today with the free Live from Orchestra Hall webcast series, which also reaches tens of thousands of children with the Classroom Edition expansion. With growing attendance and unwavering philanthropic support from the people of Detroit, the DSO actively pursues a mission to embrace and inspire individuals, families, and communities through unsurpassed musical experiences.