This project is a collaboration
between Norway Expo 2010, China-Norway Culture Promotion, The Chinese
Cultural Festival in Norway, the Shanghai Youth Animation Studio,
The Shanghai Wanfang Youth Symphony Orchestra, The Norwegian consulate
in Shanghai, Sara/Catharina Chen and Martin Romberg.
The Moon is an intercultural cooperation between Norway and China,
especially developed for the World Exhibition 2010 involving young
talented artists, and a unique concept.
For the first time in music history, the manhua – the Chinese
manga - will enter the concert hall as symphonic music.
Conductor:
Kjell Seim
Soloists: Catharina Chen & Sara Chen
Orchestra: Shanghai Wanfang Youth
Symphony Orchestra
Producer: Innovation
Norway Contakt person: Kalle Fürst
In collaboration with the Moon Project Team, Coordinated by China-Norway
Culture Promotion
Participants: Artists
from Norway:
Martin Romberg, Norwegian composer of The Moon
Kjell Seim, Norwegian conductor
Catharina Chen, Norwegian-Chinese violin soloist of The Moon
Sara Chen, Norwegian-Chinese violin soloist of The Moon Artistic
from China: Shanghai Wanfang Youth Symphony Orchestra
Co-Organizer: Elise Chen (Norway) – Project Manager
and MC, Director China-Norway Culture Promotion
MARTIN ROMBERG - COMPOSER
Martin Romberg was born in Oslo in 1978. He studied composition with Michael
Jarrell and film music with Klaus Peter Sattler at the University of Music
in Vienna, Austria.
His works have been performed by The Tiroler Ensemble für neue Musik,
Nouvelle Cuisine, Pro Brass, Pro Arte Orchestra, Niederösterreichische
Tonkünstler, The Astana Symphony Orchestra, The Bergen Philharmonic
Orchestra, The Deutsche Filmorchester Babelsberg, Orchestre National de
Montpellier and Akademische Orchestervereinigung Göttingen, among others.
In the 2010/2011 season, he has concerts with Orchestre National de Montpellier,
and the Kazakh State Opera in Astana.
In 2007 he won the composer competition De Unges Konsert as well as one
of two prizes from The Paul Woitschach Foundation for Symphonic Entertainment
Music.
SARA CHEN - VIOLINIST
Sara Chen was born in Oslo, Norway in 1990. She studies at the Barratt Due
Music institute since autumn 2009. She began to play the violin and piano
at the age of five and two years later she had her first performance as
a soloist with Bærums Symphony orchestra. She has studied with Alf
Richard Kraggerud and Stephan Barratt-Due. As a soloist, Sara has given
recitals in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Slovakia, Slovenia, Zurich, Los
Angeles. Spania, Brasil and New York. She has also soloed with the Bergen
Philharmonic orchestra and the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra.
Sara has been awarded the Laureate of Norwegian Youth String competition,
the virtuoso prize at Gnessin International Violin Competition in Moscow,
the 1st Prize of Remember Enescu International Violin Competition in Romania,
the "Karoline Prize", and “Chamber Music Award” for
her “Outstanding Performance” in the Summit Music Festival in
New York.
CATHARINA CHEN - VIOLINIST
Born in Oslo, Norway in 1985, Catharina began studying violin at the age
of five. She graduated at Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo. She continued
her studies with Eduard Schmieder at the Southern Methodist University in
Dallas and Temple University in Philadelphia.
Since the age of eight, she has soloed with all major orchestras in Norway,
including the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Bergen
Philharmonic Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Tromsø Symphony
Orchestra and Oslo Camerata. Catharina is the recipient of numerous awards,
including the Oslo City Artist Prize in 2004, the Grand Prize winner of
the Gnessin International Violin Competition in Moscow in 2003, The Norwegian
Music Publishers’ Union “Prize of Honour” (2002), and
the “Karoline Prize” (2003). She has given solo and chamber
concerts in Norway, Italy, China, Malaysia, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden,
France, Brazil, Slovenia, U.S.A and South Africa including solo performances
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Beverly Hills Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony
Orchestra and Ipalpiti Chamber Orchestra in Carnegie Hall.
June 2009, Catharina won the prestige “Intro Classic” prize
from Rikskonsertene in Norway.
KJELL SEIM – CONDUCTOR
Kjell Seim is one of Norway´s most after-sought classical conductors.
He studied at the State Academy of Music in Oslo, where he gained his diploma
in 1982. In 1987 he received the 1.Prize at the Nordic Conducting Competition
in Stockholm.
Since 1989 Mr. Seim is Music Director of Norway´s Kristiansund Opera.
He is a favorite guest conductor with the philharmonic & symphonic orchestras
in Norway, with the Norwegian State Opera and with orchestras throughout
Scandinavia. He has also conducted orchestras in Germany and the Finnish
National Ballet. Since 1993 he is a regular guest-conducting the National
Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan. Seim’s previous music directorships
include Sweden’s Jönköping Symphony Orchestra, the Kristiansand
Chamber Orchestra, the North Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, the Royal Norwegian
Armed Forces Staff Band, and Norwegian Youth Symphony Orchestra.
LIN YING
The Shanghai-based author of the manhua, Lin Ying, has produced numerous
cartoons and illustrations since her debut in 1997. In 2000 she won the
Lion King award from the Cartoon King magazine.
