BE/WE photo by Fadi Kheir. Festival graphics by Saboteur Studios, UK.
China Now Music Festival: Chasing Dreams in NYC
Bard East/West Ensemble and THE RIFT: Opera in One Act
Friday, October 2, 2026
Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
7:30 pm
Join us for the opening night of the 9th annual China Now Music Festival at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall. Led by conductor and artistic director Jindong Cai, this concert features the New York premiere of THE RIFT, a chamber opera in one act by composer Huang Ruo and Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang that explores the story behind Maya Lin’s iconic Vietnam Veterans Memorial. That same night, the Bard East/West Ensemble will perform works by contemporary composers Zhang Zheng, Luk Wai Chun, and Wang Danhong. Soloists include soprano Karen Vuong, mezzo-soprano Michelle Mariposa, tenor Edward Graves, bass-bartitone Daniel Klein, and pipa performer Yang Jin. 7:30 pm
The festival is co-presented by the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music, China. Follow this link for tickets to the opening night concert: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2026/10/02/Chasing-Dreams-Bard-EastWest-Ensemble-and-China-Now-Chamber-Orchestra-0730PM
For more information, call 845-758-6822,
or visit https://www.barduschinamusic.org/chasing-dreams.
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
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