Dreaming Back to Chang'an: China Magic Finger Young Pianist Invited to the "2025 Starlit Ocean · Auspicious New Year" Concert

On February 9, 2025, the Xi’an Concert Hall was bathed in resplendent lights and filled to capacity as the grand "2025 Starlit Ocean · Auspicious New Year" Concert commenced. Renowned conductor Xia Xiaotang joined forces with China Magic Finger young pianist Tang Juechen, alongside the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra (XSO), to deliver a passionate and melodious symphonic feast, heralding the arrival of the Lunar New Year with artistic brilliance.

Double Performances: A Blue Rhapsody

 the "2025 Starlit Ocean · Auspicious New Year" Concert

On February 8, young pianist Tang Juechen, fresh from the "2025 Magic Finger International Art Festival" in Paris, arrived in the ancient capital of Xi’an to engage in a full day of intensive rehearsals with the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra. The dual performances scheduled for the following day tested not only the musicians’ physical stamina but also their dedication to artistic excellence and teamwork. Tang Juechen and the orchestra collaborated seamlessly, channeling their professionalism and passion into perfecting every note to ensure an impeccable presentation.

Celebrated Chinese conductor Xia Xiaotang (right) and China Magic Finger young pianist Tang Juechen (left)

As the lights dimmed on the evening of February 9, the concert hall fell into a hushed anticipation. Dressed in formal attire, Tang Juechen took the stage alongside conductor Xia Xiaotang and Xi’an Symphony Orchestra (XSO) to perform Gershwin’s timeless masterpiece, Rhapsody in Blue. Blending classical grandeur with jazz improvisation, Tang’s virtuosic technique and profound musicality intertwined with the orchestra’s strings and winds, creating a rich tapestry of sound. The vibrant energy and emotional depth of the piece earned thunderous applause from the audience.

 China Magic Finger young pianist Tang Juechen

In response to the audience’s fervent encore, Tang Juechen returned to perform The Flowing Stream, a piece infused with Yunnan folk motifs, composed by Chinese musician Wang Zihan. This work, steeped in Eastern cultural heritage, rekindled the hall’s enthusiasm, concluding the evening on a note of resonant cultural pride.

Dreaming Back to Chang'an

Image: the ancient city of Xi’an

This journey to Xi’an held profound significance. Marking the inaugural performance of the 2025 Lunar Year of the Snake, the transition from the romantic city of Paris (2025 Magic Finger International Art Festival · Paris) to the millennia-old capital of Xi’an felt like a voyage across time and space.

As the adage goes: “A century of Chinese history is reflected in Shanghai, a millennium in Beijing, and five millennia in Xi’an.” Known historically as Chang’an, Xi’an—the capital of Shaanxi Province—stands among the world’s four ancient capitals alongside Athens, Rome, and Cairo. As the seat of thirteen dynasties, its splendor is unparalleled. Hosting the concert was the Xi’an Concert Hall, the Northwest’s premier musical venue. Opened in 2009, this 18,000-square-meter architectural marvel rivals Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts and Shanghai’s Oriental Art Center. For China Magic Finger Pianist, collaborating with the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Xia Xiaotang here was a poetic return to Chang’an, resonating with New Year blessings through music.

About the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra

(XSO)
Founded in 2012, the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra is the municipal symphony orchestra of Xi’an. Under the artistic direction of celebrated conductor and music educator Zhang Guoyong, with young conductor Dong Chao as resident conductor, XSO adheres to international professional standards, maintaining a rigorous music season program.

The orchestra has collaborated with world-renowned artists, including Angela Hewitt, Khatia Buniatishvili, Nikolai Demidenko, Barry Douglas, Leo Nucci, Shi Yijie, José Carreras, Jian Wang, Stephen Hough, Tan Dun, Zheng Xiaoying, Midori Gotō, He Hui, Yin Chengzong, and Lang Lang.

Supported by Shaanxi Grand Theatre | Xi’an Concert Hall’s production platform, XSO has undertaken major operatic performances since 2017, including Turandot, Carmen, Rigoletto, La Traviata, Tosca, The Marriage of Figaro, and Candide, alongside world-class artists.

Committed to cross-cultural dialogue through music, XSO explores the fusion of traditional Chinese culture and symphonic art. With resident composer Sun Chang (Shanghai Conservatory of Music), the orchestra has pioneered works such as Chang·An (2020), a symphonic recital of Tang poetry, and Dao De Jing (2024), a grand symphonic chorus. Collaborations with luminaries like Chen Xinyi, Pu Cunxin, and Zhang Guoli have expanded the possibilities of integrating literature, theater, and multimedia with symphonic music.

In democratizing classical music, XSO innovates through digital engagement. Its annual "XSO Big Wild Goose Pagoda Open-Air Concert" (launched in 2013)—China’s only large-scale free symphonic performance—has reached global audiences via livestream, earning acclaim from People’s Daily: “XSO has woven high-quality music into the fabric of civic life.” Subsequent online initiatives continue to ignite public passion for classical music across diverse communities.