Sichuan sends a note of thanks

Shanghai and Sichuan philharmonic orchestras will stage a joint symphony concert next Thursday for more than 1,000 Shanghai firemen, armed policemen, doctors and nurses who helped rescue efforts in the quake-stricken areas of Sichuan Province.

Liao Dancheng, deputy director of the Sichuan Philharmonic, said the Sichuan musicians were in Shanghai to show gratitude through music to those who had helped the victims of the powerful May 12 earthquake. The concert will be performed by 112 musicians from the Shanghai Philharmonic and 35 from the Sichuan Philharmonic at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center.

A normal symphony concert would feature only 100 musicians, Liao said.

Shanghai Philharmonic Artistic Director Chen Zuohuang will conduct the concert.

"The repertoire will include the Beethoven Symphony No. 5 'Fate,' which I believe is the best piece to describe China's response to the disaster," said Chen, who is also music director of Beijing's National Grand Theater.

The concert will also feature the cheering Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 and China's "Yellow River Piano Concerto."

The Shanghai Philharmonic and Shanghai-based Asia Business Corporation have commissioned composer Ye Xiaogang to create a symphony with the earthquake as its theme. It is scheduled to premiere in Sichuan at the end of the year.

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