Bard East/West Ensemble and THE RIFT: Opera in One Act
Friday, October 2, 2026 7:30 pm EDT/GMT-4 Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
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.
Jindong Cai, conductor Bitó Conservatory Building, Performance Space7:00 pm – 8:30 pm EDT/GMT-4 The Bard Chinese Ensemble pays tribute to its beloved music director Shutong Li 李梳曈 '21 after his sudden passing in February. US-China Music Institute director Jindong Cai will conduct. FREE and open to the public. Livestream at: youtube.com/live/vUX2qLWqSrk
PROGRAM
Abing 阿炳 The Moon Reflected on Erquan Pond 《二泉映月》 Beitong Liu, erhu
Ning Yong 宁勇 Camel Bells Along the Silk Road concerto for ruan and orchestra 《丝路驼铃》中阮协奏曲 Yuling Nan, ruan
Liu Xijin 刘锡津 Echoes from the Maritime Silk Road concerto for konghou 《丝海流音》箜篌协奏曲 Jiayi Sun, konghou
Wang Danhong 王丹红 Four Seasons in Lingering Garden symphonic poem 《四季留园》