Gao Hong - Symphony of Self

Information

Composer: Gao Hong

• Flying Dragon Concerto
• Guangxi Impression
• Reminiscences
• Yue Xing
• Celebration (Version for Wind Band)

Gao Hong, pipa

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Michael Poll, conductor

"The President's Own" United States Marine Band

Darren Y. Lin, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Naxos World Music

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Internationally acclaimed pipa virtuoso and composer Gao Hong enters a new creative phase by integrating ancient pipa traditions into full Western orchestral works. She composes, orchestrates, and performs four concertos that reimagine the Chinese lute within a classical orchestral context. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, these works represent a compelling cultural fusion that expands the expressive reach of the pipa. The album Symphony of Self also features Celebration, performed by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, highlighting Gao Hong’s versatility and command of both orchestral and wind band composition.

Gao Hong (born 1964 in Luoyang, Henan) is a Chinese-American composer and virtuoso performer of the Chinese pipa. A graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, she studied under renowned pipa master Lin Shicheng of the Pudong School and later served as a soloist with the Beijing Song and Dance Troupe. Since relocating to the United States in 1994, she has built an acclaimed international career as a performer, educator, and collaborator. Gao is Professor of Chinese Musical Instruments at Carleton College, has received numerous music awards, and was honored with “Gao Hong Day” in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 2022.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz