[Performers]
Zhongruan: Cui Can
Conductor: Pang Kapang
Orchestra: Suzhou Chinese Orchestra

[Timeline]
Tuning - Conductor taking the stage 0:00
❶Animal Suite 1:47
I. The Proud Little Monkey 1:57
II. The Dreaming Panda 5:24
III. The Singing Parrot 12:43
IV. The Dancing Pug 16:18
❷The 2nd Zhongruan Concerto 20:32
I. Adagio 20:50
II. Andante 31:24
III. Largo, Moderato, Allegro 42:47
❸Nostalgia for Portugal 56:24
❹The Charming Braid 1:04:53
I. Dawn in Macau 1:05:04
II. The Water-Carrying Aling 1:10:06
III. Handsome Mario 1:16:53
IV. The Fight by the Well 1:24:04
V. The Subliming Night 1:27:53
VI. Dragon Boat Festival 1:35:40
VII. Going Home 1:39:38
Encore: William Tell Overture - Finale 1:47:23

[Program Notes]
❶ "Animal Suite" Composer: Liu Xing
The original work was composed by the composer around 1986 for the children's orchestra from 5 to 14 years old at the Beijing Children's Activity Center, and later rearranged for a grand orchestra in 1998. The work is divided into four movements:
Ⅰ. The Proud Little Monkey
Ⅱ. The Dreaming Panda
Ⅲ. The Singing Parrot
Ⅳ. The Dancing Pug

❷"The 2nd Zhongruan Concerto" Composer: Liu Xing
Zhongruan: Cui Can
"Around 2001, Hong Kong Yueqin and Zhongruan performer Ms. Lei Qun'an commissioned me to write a Zhongruan concerto for her solo concert. I already had the desire to write a 2nd Zhongruan Concerto, so it hit it off. It took three years and was completed at the end of 2004. Later, although the concert did not performed due to various reasons, this work has been born. For composers, no matter how the time has changed, they can write their own satisfactory works and accumulate for the people. Spiritual wealth is the greatest meaning of life. I would like to sincerely thank Ms. Lei Qun'an. Without this commission, there would be no such work."-Quoting from the composer - Liu Xing

❸ "Nostalgia for Portugal" Composer: Rão Kyao Arrangement: Guan Naizhong
"I miss my hometown, my motherland, and the land I have never known. Faint memories, endless misses, inextricably linked, and thousands of miles away. Born here, grown here, still attached to the distant homeland. Missing the bacalhau, olive oil, wine, the coolness of the mountains, the warm fire, dreaming back to the black stone house, the white gray walls, the boundless fields, and the vast ocean. The sentimental song of Portugal has broken my heart and made me look into space in front of the window." —— Quoted from the composer - Guan Naizhong

❹Chinese Symphony Suite "The Charming Braid" Composer: Guan Naizhong
This suite tells the love story of the beautiful water carrying girl Aling who lived in Macau and the native Portuguese youth Mario in the 1930s. The music uses Gaohu solo to play the beautiful water carrying Aling, and Zhongruan solo to perform Mario, the xylophone plays the crisp sound of Aling's clogs, the performance of the three instruments is quite difficult, and full of emotion and spirituality. The music is divided into seven movements:
▶1st Mov. The Dawn of Macau
The rising sun cast a golden light on the surface of Haojiang River, and the town woke up from its sleep.
▶2nd Mov. The Water-Carrying Aling
Aling has a big black braid. When she walks, her braids sway very charmingly. The clogs make a crisp sound when walking on the stone road.
▶3rd Mov. Handsome Mario
Born in Portugal, Mario was born in a wealthy business family. He is handsome and romantic, and is pursued by many girls, but he fell in love with this simple water carrying girl.
▶4th Mov. The Battle by the Well
Mario showed love to Aling by the well, although he was mocked by other girls, but he has sowed the seeds of love in Aling's heart.
▶5th Mov. The Subliming Night
Mario came to Aling's cabin, Aling accepted him, and they abandoned their original class and way of life. Mario was kicked out of the house, and Aling was not tolerated by other girls, but love allowed them to bravely embrace the difficult new life.
▶6th Mov. Dragon Boat Festival
Many years later, Mario's father met Mario and Aling in the Dragon Boat Festival
▶7th Mov. Going Home
In the evening, Mario's father came to the door of their home. Regardless of what happened, Aling said to him enthusiastically: "Come in, this is your home."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recording location: Suzhou Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall
Recording date: July 24, 2021