What brings people together? Food, drinks, music, games, a common goal or purpose. These are primal instincts we share before languages, borders, ethnicities.

This program: Wo-Men, means « we, us, together » in my mother tongue, mandarin. It was born from a recurring, difficult question: in face of all the issues and conflicts in our world today, how can we humbly play our parts?

For me, my own disconnect is often caused by a perceived limitation as to what I can do to contribute. But, I still believe there are ways we all can. Whether directly or indirectly, we each hold the power and responsibility to create a brighter collective future.

So, I created this program to share the power of music to bring people together, to build community by celebrating the beauty of our diverse cultures.

If we find our shared core values, and be kind, be kind to ourselves and others in every little thing we do, every detail, every daily interaction - the kindness will permeate. Our energies accumulate, and then, magically, become larger than their sum.

By being in this same space, sharing this moment, paying attention, we are creating a better community.

So thank you again, for just showing up, for being open to this experience.

Yours,

Tong

About the Program:

Our diverse musical cultures reveal our diverse humanity. Now more than ever, we need to wield the power of music to understand and connect with one another, to imagine a better future, and to find common hope.

In a time of immense political upheaval, 我们 “Us” is an invitation to reconnect with each other and with the world around us. This piano program celebrates traditional cultural heritages and unravels social issues across the world from China and India to Turkey, Ukraine, and Africa. There are moments of great sadness, tragedy, and pain, but equally, if not more, there is hope, empowerment, joy, and even … cuteness (!) Whether directly or indirectly, we each hold the power to create a brighter collective future. The more we learn and understand each other’s backgrounds, the more sensitive we can be, the more we understand the symbols, the gestures, the how to being kind, being generous, being sincere in our humble efforts to be together, to be 我们(women, “us”).

This rendition of the program will also feature special guests Trio Eudaemonia performing Reena Esmail's Piano Trio.

https://tong-wang.com/updates/2022/8/30

Delong Wang - Portrait of the Astor Chinese Garden Court (2022)

I. Gazebo 亭

II. Rocks 石

III. Bamboo 竹

IV. Stream 溪

Larysa Kuzmenko - In Memoriam to the Victims of Chernobyl (2008)

Fazil Say - Gezi Park Sonata, Op. 52 (2016)

I. Nights of Resistance on the Streets of Istanbul

II. The Silence of the Gas Cloud

III. On the Killing of the Innocent Child Berkin Elvan

IV. Hope is Always in Our Hearts

Martin Scherzinger - Etudes (2021)

I. The Horse is Not Mine, a Hobby Horse

II. Verso il capo

III. Kinderreim

IV. Chopi-Chopin

-intermission-

Reena Esmail - Piano Trio (2019)

I. Ephemeral

II. Breathing

III. Capricious

IV. Powerful, broad, intense

Maitreyi Muralidharan, violin

Julia Weldon, cello

Tong Wang, piano