UK orchestra performing British premiere of Tan Dun's work

The London Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the United Kingdom premiere of Chinese composer Tan Dun's Buddha Passion on the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Sunday.

Tan was inspired to write Buddha Passion after dozens of visits to the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, on the ancient Silk Road.

After seeing murals of musical scenes, depicting musicians, musical instruments, and orchestras, he thought it would be fascinating to transcribe the art into music and perform it with a modern-day symphony orchestra.

He also spent two years conducting research on ancient music manuscripts from the caves, some of which are scattered around the world, including at the British Library.

"I remember opening one of the manuscripts from the 10th century, and I heard the sound from 1,500 years ago. I was transported from my spot in London into the desert in ancient China and into these old stories. I try to connect this ancient wisdom with the attitude of the future and am honored to bring my musical reflections to London, and share my Buddha Passion," Tan was quoted as saying by Ruth Haines, a press manager at the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

The composer spent six years creating the work that had its world premiere at the Dresden Music Festival in Germany in May 2018.

Buddha Passion is an operatically-scaled work for six singers, including two indigenous singers, and a double choir with traditional instruments.

The London Philharmonic Choir and the London Chinese Philharmonic Choir will be conducted by Tan.

Haines said he even asked a specialist instrument maker to create a replica of a xiqin, an ancient two-stringed bowed instrument that he saw in one mural, specifically for the piece.

In this work, the legends of Buddhism meet the tradition of Bach's great choral Passions.

Tan said he realized music is a bridge between the Mogao Caves and London, as well as from ancient times to today.

Haines introduced the premier during a ceremony at the Cultural Section of China's embassy in London on Tuesday ahead of the 2023 UK "Happy Chinese New Year" events.

"We're delighted that (Jan 22) is the opening day of the Spring Festival, and also Lunar New Year," said Haines. "Our mission at the LPO is to share the wonder of classical music and Tan Dun's work matches this very well."