Born in Shanghai in 1955, Xiaogang Ye is regarded as one of China's leading contemporary composers. He has written music in a variety of genres, including symphonic and chamber works as well as scores for the stage. Ye has also composed music for films and the two works recorded here are both examples of this. Sichuan Image consists of 29 brief and atmospheric pieces composed to accompany a filmed travelogue of the scenic province in Western China. In preparation for the work, the composer visited mountains, river, villages and ancient historical sites in Sichuan. Lending further color to the large symphony orchestra, four Chinese musicians perform on traditional instruments. The album closes with Concerto of Life, a suite in five movements for piano and orchestra with Noriko Ogawa taking on the solo part. The work is based on the score for a feature film of the same name telling the story of a piano teacher and his students. Ogawa has also appeared on a previous album of Ye's music alongside the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and conductor JosÃ© Serebrier - a release named Editor's Choice in the Gramophone, whose reviewer described the performances as 'superb' and Ye's scores as possessing 'lyrical elegance, searching drama and depth of color...'

Tracklist:

Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 1, Prelude. Memory Of Sichuan
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 2, Mt. Bashan
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 3, Shadow Of Bamboo
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 4, The Torrent In Yankou
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 5, The Distant Water In Hechuan
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 6, A Night In Bazhong
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 7, Riverside Of Jialing River
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 8, Torrential Chuan River
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 9, Mt. Meishan
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 10, Beichuan Region
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 11, It Rains When Heaven Deems Fit
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 12, The Boundless Mt. Minshan
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 13, Fog In Nanchong
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 14, Salt Well
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 15, Gloomy Rain In Wenchuan
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 16, Great Mountains In Sichuan
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 17, Mother Re-Marries
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 18, Qingcheng In The Rain
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 19, Ambition Of Sichuan
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 20, A Sunny Day In Guangyuan
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 21, The South Of Mian River
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 22, A Morning Sun Over Qiang Village
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 23, Looking Up Into Leshan
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 24, Night Rain In Wenchuan
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 25, The Love Of Chuandong
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 26, The Love Of Tianfu
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 27, Fogs Of Suining
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 28, Dreaming Back To South Sichuan
Sichuan Image, Op. 70: No. 29, Epilogue. My Sichuan
Concerto Of Life, Op. 23c: I. Life Song
Concerto Of Life, Op. 23c: II. Roses In The Shades Of Evening
Concerto Of Life, Op. 23c: III. Cruel Truth
Concerto Of Life, Op. 23c: IV. Never Regret
Concerto Of Life, Op. 23c: V. A Dream
Concerto Of Life, Op. 23c: VI. Hospital
Concerto Of Life, Op. 23c: VII. Live On In Spirit

UPC: 7318590023037
Label: Bis
Release Date: 6.3.22
Format: CD

Ye / Ogawa / Royal Scottish National Orchestra - Sichuan Image (CD)