Great Chinese New Year Concert 2026 - Wuxi Chinese Orchestra

The 26th Grand Chinese New Year Concert
Chinese Orchestra Wuxi
Zhang Hongyan / Pipa
Deng Jiandong / Erhu
Musical Direction: Sun Peng

With the 26th Grand Chinese New Year Concert, we cordially invite you to celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Horse with a magnificent musical experience. In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes vitality, elegance, and drive—qualities that also characterize the program. Under the baton of Maestro Sun Peng, you can look forward to a varied journey through China's soundscapes: from festive overtures and lyrical solo concertos to orchestral works that combine tradition and modernity. The evening will be hosted by audience favorite Robert Meyer, whose charm and humorous presentation will make the concert a special experience. Together with the musicians of the Wuxi Chinese Orchestra, he builds bridges between cultures and generations. Since 1998, the New Year's Concert organized by Wu Promotion has developed into a globally acclaimed format. Year after year, top orchestras present the diversity of Chinese music, connecting cultures and opening new horizons. Immerse yourself in sounds that are different and new—in the joy of Chinese musicians who bring their culture to Europe. Enjoy your "sound discovery"!

**Concert Program**
The 26th Grand Chinese New Year Concert
Chinese Orchestra Wuxi
Musical Direction: Sun Peng

Li Huanzhi / Spring Festival Overture
Zhao Jiping / The Great Tree of Scholar Wang
Danhong Wang / Ode to the Sun
Wang Danhong / Cloud and Flower Fantasy
Solo Pipa: Zhang Hongyan
**Intermission**
Zhao Jiping / Guo Feng: National Spirit
Deng Jiandong / Spring Morning
Solo Erhu: Deng Jiandong
Wang Yunfei / A Dream of Taihu
Jiang Ying / The Silk Road
Chinese Orchestra Wuxi

The Chinese Orchestra Wuxi was founded in 2020 and is under the artistic direction of the renowned Erhu virtuoso Deng Jiandong. The music director and chief conductor is Sun Peng, winner of the 1st prize at the first Chinese conducting competition. Notable musicians such as Ye Cong and Yan Huichang, as well as prominent composers and soloists, support the ensemble as advisors. The hometown of Wuxi is regarded as the cradle of Wu culture and the "home of the Erhu." From this tradition, the orchestra draws its artistic inspiration. Guiding principles are excellence, uniqueness, and openness. Since its founding, the orchestra has performed in Europe, Asia, and North America, receiving numerous awards, including "Outstanding Chinese Orchestra." Many of its commissioned works have been supported and awarded by national arts funds. The ensemble aims to create new works that reflect the culture of Wuxi and the spirit of China while also resonating internationally—carrying the "voice of Taihu" to the world.

**Sun Peng**
Sun Peng is regarded as one of the outstanding conductors of the young generation in China. He is the music director and chief conductor of the Chinese Orchestra Wuxi and a permanent guest conductor of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. Previous positions have taken him to the Macao Chinese Orchestra and the Shanxi Performing Arts Group Chinese Orchestra. He received his initial training in China under Prof. Yan Huichang and later at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, which he graduated from with the highest honors. With extensive experience in both Chinese and Western repertoire, Sun Peng has conducted hundreds of concerts, including numerous world premieres, and is considered a versatile and distinguished musician.

**Zhang Hongyan / Pipa**
Zhang Hongyan is an internationally celebrated Pipa soloist and a professor at the Music Conservatory in Beijing. She regularly performs in major concert halls across Asia and Europe and has been recognized by the press as the "Ambassador of the East." In addition to her concert activities, she is engaged as an educator and cultural mediator. Many of her students have become award-winning musicians themselves. Through innovative teaching formats and the establishment of ensembles, she shapes the development of Chinese string music and connects tradition with contemporary repertoire.

**Deng Jiandong / Erhu**
Deng Jiandong is one of the most significant Erhu virtuosos in China. He is the artistic director of the Chinese Orchestra Wuxi and a professor at leading conservatories in Shanghai and Nanjing. Numerous awards, including the China Gold Record Award, recognize his achievements. As a soloist, he has performed with renowned orchestras worldwide, including at the Vienna Musikverein, and has premiered works that are now part of the modern Erhu repertoire. Deng's playing combines technical brilliance with great expressiveness, making him one of the defining voices of his instrument on the international stage.