Dunstan Playhouse Saturday 21 January 7:30 pm
A delicate Chinese butterfly is floating into Adelaide this Saturday night! Not literally of course, but the aptly named Butterly Ladies Band are a fabulous 15-piece ensemble from China, who bring a blend of traditional Chinese music with a contemporary, chic twist!
This Chinese Lunar New Year, Adelaide Festival Centre will ring in the Year of the Rooster with the Butterfly Ladies Band – Chinese New Year Concert 2017 and The World Is Not Flat – Chinese Contemporary Video Art exhibition; a stunning double-bill of traditional Chinese music and contemporary visual art.
China’s Butterfly Ladies Band will take audiences on an epic journey through the sights and traditional sounds of China in a special one-night-only Adelaide premiere concert at the Dunstan Playhouse on 21 January.
Soaring bamboo flute, strings and woodwinds expertly played by selected performers of the Zhejiang Traditional Orchestra. The Butterfly Ladies play with beauty and simplicity.
Featuring members of the award-winning Zhejiang Traditional Orchestra, the 15-piece ensemble plays traditional Chinese music of various styles using a range of eastern instruments including the sheng, the banhu, the liuqin mandolin, the daruan and the erhu, also known as the Chinese fiddle.
To give you an idea of the majestic tranquility of the Butterfly Ladies band, take a look here!
We had a chat with Deputy Head of the group Ms SONG Shanhu about how the show has been received and the process in general;
What is the concept of the Butterfly Ladies Band? “We try to reinvent traditional Chinese music. We play the unique traditional “Silk and Bamboo music” and we try to add in contemporary elements into our performances. We aim to take audiences on an epic journey through the sights and traditional sounds of China but in a very modern way.”
How were the musicians chosen for the band? “Our artists are all graduates of the leading Music School in China. Their skills match their pretty appearance. Every member in the team has won awards and prizes in different competitions, and we are proud to have such professional artists in our team.”
What is the audience’s response to the group so far? “As a well-acclaimed performing group, “Butterfly Young Ladies Band” has been invited to perform in quite a number of international cultural events as a bridge for cultural communication. Our skilled and original performances have been loved by our international audiences, and have received much acclaim by the media.”
How do you manage 15 artists all at once! Is it easy or difficult? “As professional artists, every band member plays a unique role in the team but we all have the same goal. We are a close team and aim to bring the finest music to our audiences.”
Butterfly Ladies Band will perform in Sydney before their Adelaide premiere. Since their last Australian performance in 2007, they have received international acclaim by audiences across the UK, Ireland, Russia, Canada, Chile and Peru.
With tranquil, enchanting melodies and captivating visuals, Butterfly Ladies Band will transport audiences to place of beauty and wonder through this truly magical performance.
The Chinese cultural celebrations continue into the Lunar New Year with The World Is Not Flat exhibition showcasing cutting-edge video art works from over ten of China’s most fascinating up-and-coming young artists.
Curated by renowned Chen Lin and Liu Yiping, and inspired by themes explored in the Thomas L. Friedman bestseller The World is Flat (2005), this unique exhibition covers a wide variety of concepts including poetry expression, virtual creativity, idealism and speculative realism, and aims to break prejudiced ideas of the world through visually reconstructing the space and environment we live in.
Artists featured in this exhibition have been shortlisted through China’s distinguished Art Nova 100 program.
Launched in 2011 to discover and promote young artists, Art Nova 100 selects artists through expert nominations, the artists’ own applications and mutual recommendations, a public evaluation process, and recommendations by foundations. The final shortlist of young artists are invited to participate in the annual art activities including exhibitions and forums both in China and abroad. Some of the featured artists include Bai Lei, Bai Qingwen, Cai Yuanhe, Cui Yanbin, Feng Wei, Geng Xue, Li Tintin, Liang Hao, Liu Qianyi, Peng Yun, Ren Lun, SongXi and Yang Xinjia, Tian Xiaolei, Wang Ruihan and Yan Junjie.
Proudly supported by Adelaide Festival Centre, China Culture Centre in Sydney, Z Art and Art Nova 100, The World Is Not Flat exhibition will premiere in Adelaide in February and will continue in Sydney mid-April.
Since signing an historic agreement with the China Cultural Centre in February 2016, and following the huge success of last year’s Chinese contemporary exhibition Stories of Life, Adelaide Festival Centre continues to consolidate its position as Australia’s pre-eminent major arts venue engaging with Asia.
Adelaide Festival Centre’s Artistic Director and CEO Douglas Gautier says, “Adelaide Festival Centre is committed to presenting some of the very best arts and performances from China to its Adelaide audiences. We are thrilled to be joining with the China Cultural Centre in Sydney to present the Butterfly Ladies Band concert and The World Is Not Flat exhibition, and look forward to hosting more wonderful programs to encourage cultural awareness and support the important relationship between China and Australia.”
The World Is Not Flat – Chinese Contemporary Video Art is curated by Chen Lin and Liu Yiping, organised by Adelaide Festival Centre and China Cultural Centre in Sydney in association with Z Art and Art Nova 100, with academic support by Chinese Modern & Contemporary Art Documentary
Butterfly Ladies Band is proudly presented by Adelaide Festival Centre and China Cultural Centre Sydney.
What BUTTERFLY LADIES BAND – Chinese New Year Concert 2017
When Saturday 21 January 2017
Venue Dunstan Playhouse
Time 7.30pm
Cost Premium $49, Adult A Res $39, Conc A Res $34, A Res Groups 6+ $34, Subscribe & Save Adult $34, Concession $29, GreenRoom $20
A handling fee of $8.95 applies per transaction
What THE WORLD IS NOT FLAT – Chinese Contemporary Video Art
When 15 February 2017 – 19 March 2017
Venue Artspace Gallery
Artspace Gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 4pm.
Cost Free
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