Mindy Meng Wang on Spring, Flower, Snow and the Moon 春花秋月
Melbourne Recital Centre's 2023 Artist-in-Residence is Chinese/Australian composer and performer, Mindy Meng Wang. Excelling in experimental music and improvisation, Mindy is pioneering a new sonic direction for the guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument.
In Mindy Meng Wang's first concert of the year, she unites with her friend and collaborator, Paul Grabowsky to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Discover more about the concert in this piece by Mindy Meng Wang.
My name is Mindy Meng Wang and I am a composer and contemporary guzheng performing artist. I have performed throughout Asia, Europe and Australia and my work explores the fertile space between traditional and contemporary practices. I am a music pioneer, bringing the guzheng (an ancient Chinese horizontal harp) into many western genres such as experimental, jazz, western classical, electronic and improvisation.
I recently won 'Best Musician' at the 2021 Music Victoria Awards, the 2021 '40 Under 40: Most Influential Asian-Australian Award' and the Sydney Myer Creative Fellowship. I am also very honoured to be the Artist-in-Residence at Melbourne Recital Centre in 2022 and 2023 — the first Artist-in-Residence musician who plays a non-western instrument.
I am thrilled to be presenting my Lunar New Year concert, Spring, Flower, Snow and the Moon 春花秋月 in Sydney and Melbourne this year. Following the performance with Sydney Symphony Orchestra on Tan Dun’s Zheng concerto in Sydney, I invited my dear friend and the exceptional composer and pianist Paul Grabowsky to join me for Melbourne’s Lunar New Year concert.
Paul Grabowsky is a pianist, composer, arranger, conductor. He has had a distinguished career including composing for films, founding the Australian Art Orchestra, and in 2020 was announced as the MSO’s 2021 Composer in Residence. He has won seven ARIA awards, two Helpmann awards, several APRA and Bell Awards and a Deadly award. He was the Sydney Myer Performing Artist of the Year in 2000, and received the Melbourne Prize for Music in 2007.
From our first collaboration, Paul and I noticed a strong connection between our music, we often go into deep emotions together and music just flows out effortless — as if our thoughts and conversations became notes and melodies. I am very exciting to bring this really exquisite collaboration to Melbourne audiences at this special time of the year.
'Spring, Flower, Snow and the Moon' is a phrase from a 10th century Chinese poem reflecting upon the natural and beautiful things in life. Just like this concert, it’s a conversation about profound memories and feelings. A brave, honest moment that will take you on an emotional journey.
We hope you can join us. Explore the concert and book your tickets via the link below.
Spring, Flower, Snow and the Moon 春花秋月
Friday 27 January, 7.30pm
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre
