Cellist Wang Jian Joins Guitarist Göran Söllscher For Shanghai Reunion
Renowned cellist Wang Jian will join Swedish guitar master Göran Söllscher next month for a duo concert featuring a richly diverse program that spans both time and geography – from Western classics to Eastern melodies.
The performance marks a reunion after two decades. In 2007, the two musicians recorded the album "Reverie" together for Deutsche Grammophon. For this Shanghai concert, they will perform the album's signature pieces live, marking the Chinese premiere of the album.
Their artistic bond traces back to a serendipitous moment: Wang once happened to hear a recording of Söllscher collaborating with Gil Shaham, and the guitar's timbre immediately captivated him. Later, while preparing his own album, Wang chose to set aside the piano – the most common partner in chamber music – and extended an invitation to Söllscher instead.
"To me Söllscher is not just a guitarist; I have learned a great deal from him, including the nobility and elegance he brings to music," Wang said in an earlier interview.
The cello-guitar duo is actually a relatively rare combination in chamber music. The cello is deep and sonorous, while the guitar is clear and bright. Their registers overlap yet never compete. Finding a subtle balance in tonal color is essential for them to coalesce.
The concert program embraces the chill of Nordic landscapes, the warmth of South American passion, and the restraint of Eastern sensibility. The duo has prepared a unique arrangement of Schubert's "Sonata for Arpeggione in A minor" as a special surprise for Shanghai audiences.
Performance info
Date: September 26, 7:30pm
Tickets: 180-880 yuan
Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center 上海东方艺术中心
Address: 425 Dingxiang Rd 丁香路425号
