The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra's latest "Music Puzzle" series concert will focus on Camille Saint-Saëns, approaching the French composer's music and life in an innovative and intimate way.

Initiated by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra's principal violinist Liu Ming, the "Music Puzzle" series differs from other music concerts in a way that it connects fragments of the composer's works and life experiences on stage, piecing together a relatively complete core portrait of the composer for the audience, thus also serving to popularize classical music knowledge.

In addition to the performing ensemble, two actors on stage make a presentation through a combination of musical performance, theatrical acting, and narration. The actors, as modern-day explorers, "travel" through time and space to link key events, while the musicians play the corresponding musical pieces in coordination.

"The audience will gain a deeper and more vivid understanding of the composer through both hearing and seeing," explained Liu.

"This is not a children's educational concert, but one that maintains a certain depth to earn the approval of seasoned music lovers, while remaining accessible to general audiences," she added.

During the concert on Saturday, Liu and the performance team will present Saint-Saëns' "Bacchanale," "Adagio," "Danse Macabre," "Violin in the Dusk," and "The Carnival of the Animals."

Composers previously featured in the "Music Puzzle" series include Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, and Dvořák among others.

During preparation, Liu reads biographies, researches materials, and watches documentaries to map out the composer's life and distill the concert's theme. Afterwards, she writes the dramatic framework before having music experts verify historical facts, and arranges props, among other tasks.

"We prioritize composers who are familiar to the public and whose melodies are highly accessible, to ensure attendance and market acceptance," said Liu. "When the market matures further, we will also focus on more obscure composers or Chinese composers."

"This project has helped me better understand composers, the stage, and the audience," she observed. "I hope to incorporate video, animation, and even virtual technology in the future to enhance visual effects and increase interactivity."

Performance info

Date: May 30, 7:15pm

Tickets: 80-200 yuan

Venue: Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall 上海交响音乐厅

Address: 1380 Fuxing Rd M. 复兴中路1380号