Join us for a magical evening filled with opera and strings at Elizabeth Street Garden. MeeMee Chin 陳美美 will perform a selection of Cantonese opera arias accompanied by friends from the Mencius Society for the Arts.
INTERWOVEN, an intercultural string trio, will perform arrangements of Chinese folk songs featuring Andy Lin on the Erhu, along with select movements from Dvořak’s American Quartet, and Mozart’s Viola Quintet in G Minor.
Artist bios:
MeeMee Chin 陳美美 began her Cantonese Opera journey in 2004 as a way to support the oldest Opera Club in Chinatown, Manchee Benevolent Association. At first it was something for her to fill her Saturdays but it soon became a deep passion as she found her voice.
Sam Chan 陳偉正 is a Toishan Chinese multi-instrumentalist. Sam has practiced Cantonese opera music over 20 years, studying with Guangxi folk musician Lin Chetao 林湛濤 and Guangdong Music Conservatory master Chen Qizhan 陳其湛.
Julie Tay 鄭杏兒 began studying Cantonese opera in 1990, formally in the sheng role under grandmaster Luo Bincao 羅品超. She studied yangqin with Foshan folk master Zhaopuqin 趙樸欽 and as of 2001 pursued advanced practice with virtuoso (Mencius co-founder) Xiao Xiannian 蕭先念.
Mei Chaoming 梅超明 was first drawn to the sound of traditional music as a child watching the wedding & funeral processions; he taught himself the saxophone initially as an escape from tedious farm chores. Mei has been playing professionally in New York City for about 15 years.
INTERWOVEN is an intercultural ensemble which celebrates and integrates traditional Asian music and Western classical music through performing, commissioning, and recording contemporary works. Exploring the time-honored soundscapes of Asia and Europe, INTERWOVEN weaves together musical and artistic threads that represent diverse origins, traditions, and materials to create something holistic. By intertwining unique Asian perspectives and aesthetics into its artistic and organizational work, INTERWOVEN encourages union between various American communities through the Asian culture’s emphasis on organic inclusion and harmony; a principle that is needed in this time of division.
Founder and GRAMMY Award winning violinist, Keiko Tokunaga, brings together seasoned musicians who have played the likes of Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall, and their equivalents in Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. Members are passionate advocates for the importance of music in social, personal, and political developments, and devote much of their time to teaching and educational outreach.
This program is co-presented with the Elizabeth Street Garden.
