Bowfire, a company of dancing virtuoso violinists and fiddlers,
stages a fast-paced razzle-dazzle show Sunday and Monday. They play
jazz, bluegrass, rock 'n' roll, classics and "Butterfly Lovers
Concerto'' .
What happens when string jazz is mixed up with classical,
bluegrass, Celtic, rock, gypsy, Texas swing and the "Butterfly
Lovers Violin Concerto?" The answer is Bowfire.
The virtuoso Bowfire violinists - 11 top names in their music
genres - perform Sunday and Monday in their first show on the
Chinese mainland, at the Shanghai Center. They are step dancers as
well.
The fast-paced stage show, with dramatic lighting, costumes and
razzle-dazzle, will also feature erhu virtuoso George Gao. The
fiddler-violinists have backup by bass, guitar, cello, piano and
drums.
Billed as a "total string experience," the all-star-show will
present jazz, classical, bluegrass, Celtic, rock, gypsy, world,
Texas swing and Ottawa Valley and Cape Breton styles. They will
also play the Chinese composition "Galloping Horses."
Han Lu, from the sponsoring Hui Huang Entertainment, says the
show is very popular internationally. "The hall is always full to
the brim with cheering fans."
The performance combines a high-quality musical experience with
a fun, theatrically staged production with impressive sound,
choreography, dramatic lighting, set design and costumes.
Bowfire was assembled in 2000 under the guidance of Lenny
Solomon, one of the leading jazz violinists today, and Broadway
stage director Stafford Arima. Bowfire debuted at Expo 2000 in
Hanover, Germany. Audiences were enthusiastic about the musical and
theatrical experience with modern fiddlers playing one hit after
another.
According to Houston Chronicle, a newspaper in Houston, Texas,
"Bowfire blurred individual traditions in the fast-paced onslaught
of top-flight playing ... Everything was slick, well-produced and
well-played. Nothing was overdone. There was enough razzle-dazzle
and variety to keep the audience entertained."
Dates: September 30-October 1, 7:30pm
Venue: Shanghai Center, 1376 Nanjing Rd W.
Tickets: 100-500 yuan
Tel: 962-288
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(Shanghai Daily September 28, 2007)