Tour Dates: 23 Mar - 27 Mar, 2011

Mengla Huang -Violin
Founded 1548, the Staatskapelle Dresden is one of the oldest orchestras in the world.

From the 23 – 27 March, the Staatskapelle Dresden - one of the world's oldest and most distinguished orchestras - will make its 3rd appearance in China with performances aligned for Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing. Presented by Wu Promotion, the nearly 500-year-old orchestra and celebrated conductor Nikolaj Znaider will perform with Paganini's 49th gold medal winner, violinist, Mengla Huang. The 2011 tour of China is sponsored by Volkswagen Import – THE PHAETON.

For the twentieth anniversary of its establishment, Wu Promotion prepares a special treat for Chinese audiences. Sponsored by Volkswagen Import - THE PHAETON, the Staatskapelle Dresden tour promises a wonderful programme with Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No.1 , Carl Maria Weber's Overture “Der Freischütz”, Johannes Brahms’Symphony No. 4 in e minor and Pyotr. I. Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in e minor. The concerts will be led by conductor Nikolaj Znaider and accompanied by the talented violinist, Mengla Huang. The tour opens at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center on the 23rd then travels to the Guangzhou Grand Theatre, to perform on the 24th, before finishing with two concerts at Beijing's National Center for the Performing Arts on the 26th and 27th of March.

The Staatskapelle Dresden is listed as one of Gramophone magazine's top ten best orchestras. Founded 463 years ago by Prince Elector Moritz von Sachsen the Staatskapelle Dresden has continuously charmed audiences and been imprinted with unique musical styles from a succession of eminent composers and conductors like Heinrich Schütz, Carl Maria von Weber, Richard Wagner, Fritz Reiner, Fritz Busch, Karl Böhm, Joseph Keilberth, Rudolf Kempe, Kurt Sanderling, Herbert Blomstedt, Giuseppe Sinopoli and Bernard Haintink. From 2007 to 2010 Fabio Luisi was music director of both Saxon State Opera and the Staatskapelle. In 2012 Christian Thielemann will assume the position of principal conductor to the Staatskapelle Dresden. Throughout its long tenure, the orchestra has received great accolades from celebrated personalities and musicians such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau who characterized the orchestra as “[…] the one with the most balanced forces and the most perfect ensemble”, Beethoven who proclaimed: “[…] that the Dresden Hofkapelle is the best orchestra in Europe.”, Richard Wagner who called it a“miraculous harp”, and Richard Strauss labelled it “the best opera orchestra in the world.” Today the Dresden Staatskapelle upholds the tradition of classical music. The orchestra's prowess praised by many contemporaries such as Seiji Ozawa who said “[…] This orchestra is a dream.” and Sir Colin Davis who named it “[…] the most individual orchestra.”

To further add to its honours, the Staatskapelle received very special recognition when it became the first orchestra to be awarded the Prize of the European Culture Foundation for the Preservation of the World's Musical Heritage in 2007. Today the Staatskapelle performs around 260 operas and ballets each season in the Semper Opera House, in addition to 50 symphonic and chamber concerts. The orchestra also gives concerts in Dresden's landmark church, the Frauenkirche, whilst a busy touring schedule regularly brings the ensemble to the world's leading venues for classical music.

It is the mix of tradition and ability to keep up with the times that make this orchestra stand out and which Wu Promotion will proudly stage under renowned conductor Nikolaj Znaider. Also celebrated as foremost violinist and chamber musician, Nikolaj Znaider is repeatedly invited as guest conductor by renowned orchestras, such as, the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, the Russian National Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic and the Swedish Radio Orchestra. He will share the spotlight in all three cities with one of the most impressive violinists of the day, Mengla Huang. Recipient of the Renato De Barbieri Memorial award for the best interpretation of Paganini's caprices and the Mario Ruminelli Memorial award, his outstanding technique and unique interpretations have fascinated audiences throughout Asia, Europe and North America. Both will bring an exciting new element to the historic orchestra's repertory, and the planned performances promise to ravel audiences and leave an important mark in China's classical calendar this spring.

“From the wealth of glorious memories accumulated over my artistic career, the sound of this peerless orchestra always stirs anew feelings of tender gratitude and admiration.” (Richard Strauss, 1948)

Conductor:  Nikolaj Znaider

Nikolaj Znaider is not only celebrated as one of the foremost violinists of today, but is fast becoming one of the most versatile artists of his generation uniting his talents as soloist, conductor and chamber musician.

Nikolaj Znaider has already been re-invited to conduct the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Dresden Staatskapelle, Russian National Orchestra, the Halle Orchestra and Swedish Radio Orchestra, and will make his conducting debuts with orchestras such as the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, WDR Köln, the Bergen Philharmonic and since the 2008/09 season has been Principal Guest Conductor of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra.

As a soloist, Znaider is regularly invited to work with the world's leading orchestras and conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Sir Colin Davis, Valery Gergiev, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Christian Thielemann, Mariss Jansons, Charles Dutoit, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Ivan Fischer and Gustavo Dudamel. In recital and chamber music he appears at all the major concert halls. In the 8/9 season the London Symphony Orchestra presented an Artist Portrait of Znaider and in the 12/13 season he will present a Carte Blanche at the Musikverein in Vienna.
An exclusive RCA RED SEAL recording artist, Znaider's most recent addition to his discography is the Elgar Violin Concerto with Sir Colin Davis and the Dresden Staatskapelle. His award winning recordings of the Brahms and Korngold Violin Concerti with the Vienna Philharmonic and Valery Gergiev, the Beethoven and Mendelssohn Concerti with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic and Prokofiev 2 and Glazunov Concerti with Mariss Jansons and the Bayerische Rundfunk have been greeted with great critical acclaim, as was his release of the complete works for violin and piano of Johannes Brahms with Yefim Bronfman. For EMI Classics he has recorded the Mozart Piano Trios with Daniel Barenboim and the Nielsen and Bruch Concertos with the London Philharmonic. Znaider is passionate about the education of musical talent and was for ten years Founder and Artistic Director of the Nordic Music Academy, an annual summer school whose vision it was to create conscious and focused musical development based on quality and commitment.
Nikolaj Znaider plays the “Kreisler” Guarnerius “del Gesu” 1741 on extended loan to him by The Royal Danish Theater through the generosity of the VELUX FOUNDATIONS and the Knud Højgaard

Mengla Huang

‘His talents are fast becoming recognised worldwide.’ 
— Gramophone

Mengla Huang is one of the most active violinists of our time. His brilliant technique and unique interpretations have fascinated audiences throughout Asia, Europe and North America. In 2002, he won the first prize at the prestigious Paganini International Violin Competition in Italy, where he was also awarded the Renato De Barbieri Memorial award for the best interpretation of Paganini's caprices and the Mario Ruminelli Memorial award.

Huang has worked with many of the world’s finest orchestras including Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart, Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, German National Philharmonic, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Kyoto Philharmonic Orchestra, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Sendai Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Macao Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra. He has performed with conductors such as: Neeme Jarvi, Edo de Waart, Jonathan Nott, Henrik Schaefer, Muhai Tang, Nicola Luisotti, Jia Lv, Ryusuke Numajiri, Thomas Dausgaard, Tovey Bramwell, etc. Highlights in 2010 include a China tour with the Basel Symphony Orchestra, and a Japan tour with the NHK Symphony Orchestra.

In October 2006, he was invited to perform for the Danish Queen in the Fredensborg Palace of Denmark, and was highly praised by the Danish Royal Court.  April 2007 saw his New York debut at the Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center and Boston debut at the Jordan Hall.  In December 2007 he performed in the grand opening gala concert of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.  He made his Czech recital debut at the Dvorak Hall at the 63rd Prague Spring Festival in May 2008.

In addition to the Paganini prize, awards he has received include Gold Medal and Public Prize in the 2001 Sendai International Music Competition in Japan; Best Performance Prize in the 2001 Shanghai Spring International Festival, and the Second Prize in the 2000 Lipinsky and Wieniawsky International Violin Competition in Poland. In November 2007 he received the first Montegrappa's Genio Creativo Award, an annual international award for young talents who represent creativity and innovation in different fields of art and from different countries.

Huang was born in Shanghai and began to study violin at the age of 4. He studied with Professor Lina Yu at Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In 2006 he received his master's degree and became the youngest ever faculty member of it. He has undertaken further studies at Royal Academy of Music and graduated in 2008.

Mengla Huang is under contract as a recording artist for Universal Music.  2005 saw his debut album “Violin Showpieces” under the Deutsche Grammophon label. His second recital album, a collection of works written by violinist-composers titled “Violinissimo,” was released in 2008. His next recording project is the 24 caprices by Paganini, which is scheduled to release in 2011.

About the sponsor:

THE STAATSKAPELLE DRESDEN CHINA TOUR 2011

Presented by

VOLKSWAGEN IMPORT – THE PHAETON

Volkswagen Import is proud to associate its most sophisticated accomplishment - the PHAETON - to the prestigious China Tour 2011 of the Dresden Staatskapelle, with whom it shares the same origin in Dresden.

Paired to the orchestra's timeless appeal, local audiences will have a chance to get a closer look at The Phaeton. Yet another masterpiece of artwork, this luxury vehicle exemplifies Dresden 800-year-old tradition of purity and classical handicrafts, alongside Volkswagen's technological advances and unrivalled passion and wisdom for making automobiles. By partnering with Dresden Staatskapelle China Tour 2011, the Phaeton entices music lovers to enjoy the highest quality in terms of refinement which results from a commitment to excellence. Voted one of the most successful luxury cars in the world for its most handmade production processes and the highest material quality, the Phaeton has continuously received praise by auto-connoisseurs ever since it entered the Chinese market in 2004.

Tour:

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