The Shanghai Rainbow Chamber Orchestra is back with the fifth edition of their Far from Home series—this time diving into the weird, beautiful world of Ligeti, Pärt, and Strauss. Expect haunting strings, dramatic lighting, and a wild blend of minimalism, mysticism, and full-on emotional meltdown. Not your average night at the symphony.

György Ligeti: Musica ricercata (1953)
(arranged by Yuan)
Avo Pärt: Fratres (1983)
(solo by Han)
Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen (1945)
(for 23 solo strings)

• Ligeti – Musica ricercata
  Arranged by Xue Yuan for a large chamber ensemble.
  Comprises 11 movements. Approx. 25 minutes.
• Avo Pärt – Fratres
  For solo violin, string ensemble, and percussion.
  Led by Han Yuanyuan. Approx. 10 minutes.
• Richard Strauss – Metamorphosen
  Composed for 23 solo string instruments.
  Approx. 30 minutes.

This installment of the “Far from Home” series continues the ensemble’s focus on contemporary and modern repertoire. The three featured works this year, composed across vastly different eras, represent the program’s furthest departure yet from traditional notions of “home.”

Ligeti’s Musica ricercata, composed between 1951 and 1953 when the composer was just 30 years old, brims with youthful energy and innovation. A modern take on the ancient polyphonic ricercare form, the work explores the expressive possibilities of piano timbre within the strict confines of 11 brief movements. Even for first-time listeners, the piece is remarkably engaging and full of delightful surprises. In this program, it is arranged for a large chamber ensemble (approx. 25 minutes).

Pärt’s Fratres, written after the composer’s turn toward mystical spirituality, exemplifies his unique blend of minimalist clarity and emotional depth. Performed here in a version for solo violin, strings, and percussion—with Han Yuanyuan as soloist—the work is immediately accessible and deeply resonant (approx. 10 minutes).

Strauss’s Metamorphosen, composed near the end of his life at the age of nearly 80, is a profound and complex single-movement piece written for 23 individual string parts. It showcases the composer’s lifelong mastery of contrapuntal writing. Dense and haunting, the piece pulls listeners into a rich, emotional vortex. No matter how many times it is performed or heard, its layers remain elusive and compelling (approx. 30 minutes).

And in a poetic twist, it is Beethoven—ever a symbol of home and humanism—who ultimately brings us back.