David Zinman conducts televised New Year's concerts with China National Symphony Orchestra in Beijing

20 December 2010

David Zinman took to the podium in front of the China National Symphony Orchestra for this year's New Year Concerts at the National Centre of Performing Arts in Beijing. The performances on 31 December & 1 January, for which Zinman was joined by pianist Hélène Grimaud and violinist Valeriy Sokolov, were shown as televised broadcasts across China to welcome in the New Year. The ecletic programme featured patriotic Chinese pieces such as Ode to the Red Flag, as well works by Rachmaninov and Gliere, ending with Tchaikovsky's dramatic 1812 Overture. Hélène Grimaud performed Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major, complemented by Valeriy Sokolov's interpretations of two Tchaikovsky pieces - Valse Scherzo and Melodie from Souvenir d'un lieu cher. David Zinman's packed January sees him based in Europe with guest engagements at the Berliner Philharmoniker, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre National de France and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.