To begin the Year of the Dog, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra will present a concert uniting cultures through the power of music.
The Chinese New Year Concert will be conducted by Jason Lai, in his first ever visit to Australia. Here, he answers some questions about the upcoming performance.
What can the Adelaide audience look forward to with this show?
The concert is an exploration of Chinese culture as well as a wonderful collaboration with some incredible artists from around the world. There will also be some well known orchestral favourites that will lend a festive quality to the afternoon.
Why do you think it’s important to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a performance like this?
The new year is an important occasion in the Chinese calendar, it’s a time of family, of food, of celebration. Concerts always bring people together so I can think of no better way to bring in the year of the Dog!
What do you love about the idea of bringing different cultures together?
I’m Chinese but was born in UK but I now live in Singapore. Throughout my life I’ve been lucky to experience many different cultures through my work and travel and I’m always learning something new. I was in China last year filming a series for BBC and was in Yongding province and visited some Tulou which are beautiful fortified dwellings, I met the people that live there and shared their customs, it was an amazing experience!
You’ve never been here before! What are you most looking forward to?
Yes, I’ve never been to Australia before but have many Aussie friends so it will be a long overdue visit. I’ve enjoyed Australian culture from afar, films, music, TV, and seen its wildlife in magazines, and now I get to see it all at first hand! I also can’t wait to get an invite to an authentic Aussie BBQ!!
What does the beginning of a Chinese New Year symbolise for you?
Like the western new year it’s a time to take stock of the the past year and to look forward to what is coming. In Asian culture it’s particularly a time to be with family, but this year of course I’ll be with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra who will be my surrogate family and I’m sure we will have a great celebration together!
Tell us a little bit about your passion for music and where it began?
I wish I could tell you that I saw a great maestro on stage in front of a huge orchestra playing an unbelievable piece, but it all started after I watched a film with a cellist in it. The film was 'Electric Dreams' and was about a computer falling in love with a cellist (yes I know it’s a terrible plot!) but after seeing it I wanted to play the cello. This put me on the path to music and I never looked back!
You’ve had a whole bunch of experience including on television! What has been your biggest career highlight so far?
So many things! I’ve been so lucky with the opportunities that have come my way but I remember conducting at the BBC Proms to a full house at the Royal Albert Hall, and also winning the BBC Maestro series with my conducting student comedian Sue Perkins of British Bake Off fame.
What’s the biggest difference for you when it comes to performing as part of something on television and to a live audience?
For me there is no difference, the buzz of live music is the same!
What do you hope your audience leaves thinking and feeling after the Chinese New Year show?
I hope that they learn something about Chinese culture and the importance of the new year through some amazing music. I have the music in front of me now and I’m already feeling the buzz! See you soon!
