The Chinese premiere was a great success, but it's a pity that it wasn't held on site.

 

Famous percussion musician Zhang Jingli

 

Famous conductor Zhang Yi

On April 28, 2018, the Star Sea Music Hall Concert Hall was warm and cozy. The famous percussionist Zhang Jingli and the famous conductor Zhang Yi joined hands with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra to present a percussion feast to the Guangzhou audience. The atmosphere on the scene was very warm, and nearly a thousand audience members in the hall listened to the percussion concert, which was sometimes passionate and energetic and sometimes gentle and delicate.

The percussionist Zhang Jingli performed the Timpani concerto "Planet Damnation" composed by the famous New Zealand composer John Psathas. When the drumsticks struck the Timpani, the audience held its breath and listened to the Timpani concerto in a tense, exciting and uplifting atmosphere, fully concentrating on enjoying this rare scene.

This work is performed abroad all year round and has never been staged in China before. The Timpani concerto itself is rare in the world, and due to its difficulty, few musicians are willing to present Timpani works. John Psathas once said, "Among the existing Timpani repertoire, there is no work that can bring such a challenge to the performers." John Psathas entrusted Zhang Jingli with "Planet Damnation" and performed it together with the orchestra in China. The live performance at the Chinese premiere was shocking. When the last note fell, the audience erupted into an endless applause, making the quiet night no longer calm.

After twenty years, conductor Zhang Yi once again collaborated with percussionist Zhang Jingli for a performance. This was also Zhang Yi's first performance as the conductor of the China National Symphony Orchestra orchestra. Chen Yi's percussion concerto showcases a unique musical experience in the contemporary percussion world, something that has never been seen in the music world before. Zhang Jingli brought a percussion feast to the Guangzhou audience with his passionate and delicate performance.

With both melody and rhythm, it gives the audience on the scene a continuous excitement. The audience on the scene has been addicted to this musical feast. The songs ended with the exciting and beautiful melody and the audience's applause, drawing the note of "good night" for the fans of Guangzhou~