Penn’s Symphony Orchestra shares the stage with musicians from Shanghai
On Oct. 2, music truly will be the universal language at Penn, as two symphony orchestras from different parts of the world share one stage.
Penn’s Symphony Orchestra will perform a joint concert with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Symphony Orchestra (SJTU) at 7:30 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium. Penn’s ensemble, led by Music Director Brad Smith, will play a selection of American work, including the Overture to “The School for Scandal” by American composer Samuel Barber, as well as Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” and “Appalachian Spring: Suite.” The symphony orchestra of SJTU, led by Music Director Cao Peng, will perform a number of classical Western and Chinese pieces, such as Verdi’s Overture to “La Forza Del Destino,” Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, and “Hundreds of Birds Worshipping the Phoenix,” folk music from China’s Shandong province.
The idea for a joint concert was sparked by Penn President Amy Gutmann’s visit to China in January 2009, when both schools announced they would expand and enhance ongoing academic and research collaborations, including identifying more opportunities for student and faculty exchanges and developing plans for research collaboration in regenerative medicine.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, founded in 1896, is one of the oldest universities in China and has boasted an orchestra since the 1920s. The group routinely wins awards, and is scheduled to perform at UCLA and the University of Chicago before arriving in Philadelphia. Penn’s Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1878, making it one of the oldest music groups on campus. It includes musicians from throughout the University, primarily non-music majors.
Originally published on Oct. 1, 2009
