Butterfly Lovers Concerto & Paganini Chloe Chua, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Rodolfo Barráez & Mario Venzago

• He Zhanhao (b. 1933), Chen Gang (b. 1935): Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto:
• 1Zhanhao, Gang: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto: I. Adagio cantabile05:31
• 2Zhanhao, Gang: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto: II. Allegro02:45
• 3Zhanhao, Gang: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto: III. Adagio assai doloroso02:49
• 4Zhanhao, Gang: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto: IV. Pesante - Più mosso - Duramente03:40
• 5Zhanhao, Gang: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto: V. Lagrimoso02:26
• 6Zhanhao, Gang: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto: VI. Presto resoluto05:29
• 7Zhanhao, Gang: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto: VII. Adagio cantabile05:03
• Chen Gang: Sunshine Over Tashkurgan:
• 8Gang: Sunshine Over Tashkurgan07:45
• Niccolò Paganini (1782 - 1840): Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 6:
• 9Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 6: I. Allegro maestoso23:36
• 10Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 6: II. Adagio05:16
• 11Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 6: III. Allegro spiritoso10:17
• Total Runtime01:14:37

Info for Butterfly Lovers Concerto & Paganini

Rising star violinist Chloe Chua presents a recording combining Chen Gang and He Zhanhao’s Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto with Niccolò Paganini’s First Violin Concerto, performed together with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Rodolfo Barráez and Mario Venzago.

The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto was written in 1959, and inspired by a tale often called the ‘Romeo & Juliet’ of ancient China. Chen and He deftly combine a Western classical idiom with elements from Chinese opera, such as grace notes and portamento effects, and the work has become one of the most famous and acclaimed pieces of Chinese classical music. This album also features an interpretation of Chen Gang’s Sunshine over Tashkurgan, which adds Central-Asian maqam to the stylistic palette. The programme concludes with Paganini’s First Violin Concerto, musically inspired by Rossinian bel canto. The three works share a richness of melodic invention and orchestral colours, as well as breathtaking virtuosic demands for the soloist. The solo parts are in excellent hands with Chloe Chua, who admires the steadfast love and perseverance of the Butterfly Lovers and feels fully at home in these evocative and exhilarating masterpieces.

Chloe Chua and the Singapore Symphony return to PENTATONE after their acclaimed recording of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Locatelli’s Labirinto armonico (2023).

“The Butterfly Lovers Concerto was one of my grand uncle’s favourite concertos. Years ago, I heard an excerpt played by one of his grandchildren at a family gathering, which left a deep impression on me. While learning the piece, I discovered how the Butterfly Lovers’ story has endured through many retellings across the ages in many different mediums, from ink to screen to music. Not only was I deeply moved by the steadfast love of the couple, and Zhu Yingtai’s courageous resistance against the customs of feudal society, I was also touched by the heart-wrenching story that unfolds through the violin concerto by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao.” (Chloe Chua)

Chloe Chua, violin
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Rodolfo Barráez, conductor (tracks 1-8)
Mario Venzago, conductor (tracks 9-11)

Chloe Chua
shot to international stardom after winning the joint-first prize at the 2018 Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists. Since then, the young starlet has traversed the globe performing in Saudi Arabia, Europe, the United States of America, Thailand, China, Singapore, and with orchestras such as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Russian National Youth Orchestra, Re:sound Collective, Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, with conductors Yuri Bashmet, Hans Graf, Joshua Kang Ming Tan, Zhang Zhen Shan, to name but a few. Her collaborations with YouTube sensation TwoSetViolin has garnered 8million total views. ​

She has been enrolled in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Young Talents programme since the age of four and has been under the tutelage of her mentor Yin Ke, Head of Strings. ​

Her list of accolades include the first prize at the 1st prize at the 24th Andrea Postacchini Violin Competition, 3rd prize at the 2017 Zhuhai International Mozart Competition, and the 1st prize at the 2017 National Violin and Piano Competition (Junior) in Singapore.

Booklet for Butterfly Lovers Concerto & Paganini