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The FILMharmonique Orchestra, under the baton of Co-Artistic Director Francis Choinière, will bridge Eastern and Western musical traditions on Jan. 30 with Butterfly Lovers, a concert that aims to capture the richness and vibrancy of both musical styles. At the heart of the diverse program is the world première of Christian Thomas’s Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra “Dragon.” A true amalgamation of both cultures, as Thomas has created a Western-style orchestral concerto for the traditional Chinese pipa, a pear-shaped plucked string instrument similar to the lute. More importantly, Thomas’s concerto was written for and dedicated to Liu Fang, a Chinese-Canadian musician known as the “empress of pipa.”
Fang described her role as a cultural bridge between East and West within the context of the “Dragon” concerto, situating the “dragon” subtitle as allegorical, mentioning that “(Thomas) beautifully illustrates an image of an imaginary dragon from birth to full development in the composition, depicting deep feeling.”
This nuanced understanding is woven throughout Thomas’s composition, which portrays the evolution of a young dragon into the revered Dragon Emperor over four movements. Themes of self-discovery and resilience are embedded throughout this musical narrative. Thomas also sees the dragon as a symbol within his work, saying that “for me, it represents strength and protection, but also kindness and a love for all living things.”
The dragon in this work is clearly not one being, but rather a collection of profound traits that can resonate with anyone, regardless of their national culture. It is, therefore, no wonder that the collaboration between Thomas and Fang has been a deeply enriching process. Having met at a mutual friend’s home, Thomas remarks that his connection with Fang was immediate, and says “the idea for the concerto emerged instantly.” The pair also share deep mutual admiration for each other’s artistry. Fang views this piece as a product of teamwork, and she yearns to “fully bring out the marvelous emotion and images embedded in this beautiful work,” while Thomas says, “It’s very enriching to learn from her about the versatility of the pipa instrument and to gain a greater understanding of its intricacies.”
In anticipating the audience’s reception of the new work, Fang hopes it will provide listeners with a fresh perspective on the dragon as a symbol of strength and kindness, adding: “I focus on connecting with the music on a deep, personal level and conveying the emotions inherent in the piece to the audience.” As for Thomas, he references hopes that “people, regardless of their culture, will appreciate my stylistic approach,” citing music as a “borderless domain.”
Butterfly Lovers, Jan. 30, 2025, Maison symphonique, Montreal www.gfnproductions.ca
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