Arnold Schoenberg's 150th Celebration An International Conference concluded successfully in Shenzhen
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great 20th-century composer Arnold Schoenberg and promote contemporary music composition and music theory research, the Composition and Compositional Theory Society of the China Musicians Association, in collaboration with the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen, held the "Arnold Schoenberg's 150th Celebration An International Conference" from November 3rd to 5th, 2023. This conference was the first of its kind globally to initiate commemorative and research activities related to Schoenberg. The commemorative activities comprised three main components: paper sessions, concerts, and opera performances, including roundtable forums, 21 paper presentations, 5 keynote speeches, a concert featuring Schoenberg's chamber music works, and the opera "Schoenberg in Hollywood."
Conference venue
Group photo of the "Arnold Schoenberg's 150th Celebration An International Conference"
The conference invited over a hundred scholars from around the world to gather in Shenzhen, China, for in-depth discussions and exchanges on topics such as Schoenberg's musical ideas, compositional systems, teaching philosophies, artistic achievements, and significant influence on modern music. Distinguished guests including Ulrike Anton, Director of the Arnold Schoenberg Center in Vienna; renowned music theorist and Schoenberg research expert Severine Neff; renowned music theorist and expert in Schoenberg studies Joseph Auner; Gerold Gruber, Professor of Music Analysis, Theory, and History at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna; renowned Schoenberg document researcher Therese Muxeneder; and Xu Mengdong, Vice President of the Composition and Compositional Theory Society of the China Musicians Association attended the event.
Xiaogang YE, Chairman of the China Musicians Association and Chair of the Organizing Committee of the "Arnold Schoenberg's 150th Celebration An International Conference", Dean of the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen
Ping JIN, Conference Chair of the "Arnold Schoenberg's 150th Celebration An International Conference", Associate Dean of the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen
Xu Mengdong, Vice President of the Composition and Compositional Theory Society of the China Musicians Association
Dr. Nuria Schoenberg, the daughter of Arnold Schoenberg
The conference opened with remarks from Xiaogang YE, representing the China Musicians Association and the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen. Prof. Xu Mengdong welcomed domestic and international guests on behalf of the Composition and Compositional Theory Society of the China Musicians Association. Dr. Ulrike Anton expressed gratitude for the organization of the conference by the China Musicians Association and the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen, and introduced the participants to the Arnold Schoenberg Center in Vienna. Opening remarks and greetings were also delivered via video by Schoenberg's daughter, the widow of modernist composer Luigi Nono, Nuria Schoenberg Nono; Schoenberg's second son, Ronald Schoenberg; and Schoenberg's youngest son and former chairman of the Schoenberg Center Council, Lawrence Schoenberg.
Ning LIANG, renowned mezzo-soprano and Professor of the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen
LUO Xiaoqing, (Special invitation) soprano from Hong Kong SAR
On the evening of November 3rd, a concert featuring Schoenberg's chamber music works was held at the Longgang Cultural Centre Concert Hall. The performance was conducted by Prof. Yu LIU and featured prominent mezzo-soprano, Prof. Ning LIANG from the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen, along with invited tenor LUO Xiaoqing from Hong Kong SAR, among other outstanding teachers and artists from the School. The concert included representative works of Schoenberg from different periods, including Chamber Symphony No.1 in E major, Three Piano Pieces, Phantasy for Violin and Piano, and Ode to Napoleon. The concert also featured early vocal works by another important composer of the New Viennese School, Alban Berg.
Yu LIU, Associate Professor of the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen, along with artists and faculties from the School, performing together
On the evening of November 4th, the opera Schoenberg in Hollywood premiered at the Longgang Cultural Centre Grand Theater in Shenzhen. This was the Asian premiere of the opera, produced and staged by the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen. It featured Italian renowned baritone, Marco Di Sapia, along with faculties from the School of Music, CUHK-Shenzhen — tenor LI Biao, soprano Ni ZHOU, and conductor, Prof. Zhuorui DENG.
The opera Schoenberg in Hollywood
Schoenberg in Hollywood was composed by American composer Tod Machover and had its world premiere in Boston in November 2018. The opera revolves around Schoenberg's encounter with Hollywood and film producer Irving Thalberg, recounting Schoenberg's life and experiences in Vienna at the beginning of the 20th century and his soul-searching about the relationship between ideas and expression. This opera production also received strong support from the MIT Media Lab and the Opera of the Future project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Closing of the opera Schoenberg in Hollywood
On November 5th, after the successful roundtable forum, the "Arnold Schoenberg's 150th Celebration An International Conference" concluded successfully. The conference lasted for three days, combining academic and artistic activities, and providing valuable exchange platforms and learning opportunities for experts and scholars.
Roundtable forum scene of the "Arnold Schoenberg's 150th Celebration An International Conference"
Dr. Ulrike Anton, Director of the Arnold Schoenberg Center in Vienna, remarked that the different events that were organized made it much more than a conference. It combined academic discussions with music performances, bringing together the most influential scholars in international Schoenberg studies to delve into academic issues. All of these elements have far exceeded the scope of an ordinary academic conference, endowing the 150th anniversary commemorative activities of Arnold Schoenberg with extraordinary significance.
Ulrike Anton, Director of the Arnold Schoenberg Center in Vienna
