MARIA MELCHIORRE
Special to The Leader
“The music is a language itself,” said Lily Li, International Recruiting Assistant for the School of Music. “It’s really a dual-lingual sound,” she continued, explaining the expressional and tonal differences between the Chinese and English languages and how these manifest in the quartet’s music.
The Shanghai Quartet’s performance this coming Saturday at 8 p.m. will encompass western late-Romantic chamber music and Chinese folk music. Fredonia Music Education Alumna Roberta Guaspari-Tzarvaras will also be accompanying the quartet during the week, giving talks and visiting classes to discuss today’s opportunities in music education and performance. Guaspari-Tzarvaras is best known for her work in the 1980s and 1990s defending children’s access to music programs in inner city school. Her work inspired the 1999 film “Music of the Heart,” in which she is played by Meryl Streep.
Originally formed at the Shanghai Conservatory in 1983, all current members of the visiting Shanghai Quartet are Chinese, save for the cellist; he is an American and the son of Guaspari-Tzavaras. The performing quartet consists of Honggang Li on viola, Nicholas Tzarvaras on cello, and Weigang Li and Li-Wen Jiang both on violin. Through this diversity, the quartet really exemplifies the beauty and fruitfulness of partnerships between China and the United States.
“It shows how China and the U.S. can either fight or work together; in politics, business and the arts,” said Li of what is often referred to by world leaders as the most important bilateral relationship of the century.
The quartet will be accompanied by Fredonia piano professor, Sean Duggan who will be performing the chamber piece Piano Quintet, Op. 81 by Dvorak. Later this fall Duggan will embark on a tour of various conservatories throughout China, performing Bach and, hopefully, recruiting new international students to Fredonia.
“Interest in Bach is growing in Asia,” said Melvin Unger, Director of the School of Music and also a Bach specialist. “There are some that view him as this very mechanic composer, but the Chinese favor a more expressive interpretation.”
Not only do many Chinese students love Bach but, “faculty in Fredonia love Chinese music,” said Li. Pianists are held to a high esteem in China, making it a challenging and fruitful career path. Many Western conservatories and universities, including Fredonia, need more piano students, especially graduate students.
Piquing interest from both sides of the globe, the show is also somewhat of a big draw for Fredonia’s international student population. Many Chinese students and faculty, such as Li, are looking forward to experiencing the juxtaposition of the Chinese Folk and Western pieces.
The Shanghai Quartet’s residency is also the subject of a lot of attention and excitement from Fredonia’s music students and others.
“I think that one of the great things about this is that they’re not just coming here for a concert; there is going to be interaction,” said Unger. This amazing opportunity in mentorship will give insight into career paths and goals for music education majors, string instrumentalists, pianists and more.”
“Although it’s required for my recital seminar, this will be my second time seeing them and I’m really looking forward to seeing Father Sean play with the quartet,” said Andrew Shelton, a freshman piano and music therapy double major.
The Quartet will be in residence at Fredonia from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. They will be conducting various master classes throughout the week, as well as lectures, round-table discussions and class visits, culminating with a public performance on Saturday evening. The residency is supported by Stanley and Elizabeth Star and the Williams Visiting Professorship endowment through the Fredonia College Foundation.