Stanford's Pan-Asian Music Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary Feb. 1 through March 1. Festival founder and director Jindong Cai speaks proudly of the past decade:
We have explored many of the rich and diverse musical cultures from Asia; with the festival as our looking-glass, we hope to continue bringing people and traditions from East and West together through music.One of the most important hallmarks of the festival is its originality. I go to the featured regions and seek talented musicians and then work with them to create our programs.
For example, this year’s performance by the 25 artists of the Tibetan Arts Troupe Of Qinghai presents a very rare opportunity to experience traditional Tibetan music, especially some of the dances and chanting are normally performed only in monasteries in Tibetan regions.
Similarly, the 30 performers from Mongolia rank among that nation’s best artists and represent diverse art forms, including traditional hoomi throat-singing and Mongolian dance as well as Western grand opera and ballet.
The festival begins on Feb. 1 with a Chinese New Year concert by the Stanford Symphony Orchestra with soloists Cong Zhao (pipa), Suli Xue (violinist) of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Rueibin Chen as the soloist in the Yellow River Piano Concerto.
The festival continues with weekend performances by the visiting ensembles from Tibet and Mongolia. Although not part of the festival, Feb. 28 and March 2 performances of the Verdi Requiem, with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Chorus, will feature four soloists from the Mongolian National Opera.
The Qinghai company has visited Nepal and Thailand, but it is making its North America debut at the festival. Its programs include ceremonial chants and dances, some of which are mostly performed only inside Tibetan Buddhist temples, and folk dances, singing, and other traditional performing art forms.
A Mongolian gala event, on March 1, will present acclaimed performers from the country in both traditional folk music and dance and Western-style opera and ballet. The Pan-Asian Music Festival includes numerous free forums and symposia discussing art in China, Tibet, and Mongolia, with the participation of artists and officials from those countries.