英语文摘:American Composers Orchestra kicks off new season at NY's Carnegie Hall

NEW YORK, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- American Composers Orchestra (ACO) kicks off 2010-2011 season on Friday night at Carnegie Hall in New York with a program entitled "Mystics & Magic."

Chinese-American composer Wang Jie had the world premiere of her new piece "From the Other Sky" as part of the ACO performance. It is a multi-media concert opera for three singers and orchestra based on her own invented myth of how the Chinese Zodiac animals lost their 13th member-- a musical lark.

"I come from the land of mystery and magic. Chinese culture is in my blood, and the Chinese Zodiac is also widely acknowledged and attracted by Westerners. So I decided to focus on this Chinese cultural element in my music production," Wang Jie, 30, told Xinhua about the inspiration of her world premiere piece.

At the forefront of a new wave of Chinese-American composers, Wang Jie has emerged as a distinctive musical voice. She is the winner of ACO's 2009 Underwood New Music Readings Commission for emerging composers.

Wang, who is originally from Shanghai of China, said that her music is influenced a lot from Chinese operas like Kun opera, and she has some oriental approach in rhythm and melody.

"I want to express the magic power of music. Music is not only a kind of knowledge, but a healing power to inspire and influence one's life," she said.

With spectacular sights and sounds, the ACO concert with George Manahan as the music director and conductor, also featured the world premiere of John Luther Adams's stunning orchestral soundscape, performed with an immersive light show, a new piece from pianist Ursula Oppens, an ACO founder and Grammy-Award winning soprano Susan Narucki.

Entering its 34th year, ACO has performed music by 600 American composers, including 200 world premieres and newly commissioned works.