Countless composers have been inspired by art. Perhaps most famously was Mussorgsky who used images by Viktor Hartmann to inspire Pictures at an Exhibition. Composers such as Rachmaninoff, Lizst, Debussy, Vaughan-Williams and more have found paintings to be a major source of inspiration. You can add to that list Tan Dun, a composer best known for his Oscar-winning score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. This week the LA Philharmonic offers the US premiere of Buddha Passion on Friday and Saturday night at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Tan Dun’s inspiration for this work are the Dunhuang Cave paintings on China’s Silk Road. Cave temples were carved into a cliff face and filled with images and sculptures of Buddha. Dunhuang is located on the western edge of the Gobi Desert. For this work, the stories of these cave paintings have served as the basis for Buddha Passion.
Like his masterwork Water Passion after St. Matthew, Buddha Passion is an oratorio for vocalists and orchestra. Joining Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic for this concert at Sen Guo (soprano), Huiling Zhu (mezzo-soprano), Kang Wang (tenor), Shenyang (bass-baritone) and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Buddha Passion is sung in Chinese and Sanskrit.
If you’re looking to celebrate Chinese New Year, the LA Philharmonic offers concerts on Wednesday and Thursday featuring violinist Ray Chen featuring a mix of western music (Ravel’s Bolero and Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso) plus eastern music by Huanzhi (Spring Festival Overture) and Du Yun (Thirst for Orchestra). The latter work is an LA Philharmonic commission having its world premiere. Leading the Philharmonic for these two concerts will be Elim Chan.
Photo of Tan Dun by Feng Hai/Courtesy of Columbia Aritsts
Photo of Elim Chan by Willeke Machiels/Courtesy of Harrison Parrott
