Noteworthy
Meet Wu Fei, Master Guzheng Artist
Year of the Snake: A Lunar New Year Celebration
Sat, Feb 8, 2025Music has been everything to Wu Fei for as long as she can remember. When she was younger, she saw that, if it was going to stay at the centre of her life, she would need to learn how to fly on her own.
A classically trained composer, singer, and master of the guzheng—a 21-string Chinese zither with a history spanning over 2,500 years—Wu Fei has built a genre-defying career that has taken her from Beijing to Nashville, blending Chinese tradition with Western classical music and contemporary improvisation. Known for her bold creativity and cross-cultural collaborations, Wu has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art and Paris’s Quai Branly Museum.
Ahead of her début with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Year of the Snake: A Lunar New Year Celebration, we caught up with Wu to discuss Tan Dun’s Zheng Concerto and the emotions she hopes to share with our audience.
Noteworthy: What does Lunar New Year mean to you, and can you share a special memory from your celebrations growing up?
Wu Fei: When you’re growing up in Beijing, Lunar New Year is the biggest holiday of the year. It’s a time when everything and everyone pauses to celebrate. My childhood memories of the holiday are filled with joy—wearing new clothes, seeing my cousins (as an only child, this was especially exciting), and gathering with family for delicious meals. The food was always incredible, with dishes like fish and dumplings taking centre stage.
As a child, receiving red envelopes filled with money was thrilling. I remember how much I could buy with just 10 or 20 yuan back then—it felt like a fortune! Another vivid memory is the sound and sight of fireworks lighting up the sky. It was a communal experience, with over a billion people celebrating simultaneously. Now that I live away from my family, we’ve adapted by staying connected through a WeChat group, sharing greetings and celebrations virtually.
NW: Lunar New Year has become a global holiday. What are some meaningful ways people of all backgrounds can celebrate?
WF: For anyone celebrating for the first time, I recommend starting with food and music. Visit a Chinese or Asian restaurant—many will be beautifully decorated and serve special dishes for the occasion. Explore Asian markets for festive decorations and ingredients that carry cultural significance.
If you love music, you can celebrate by attending the Toronto Symphony’s Lunar New Year concert. Music is a universal language, and through it, you can connect deeply with the culture. And, of course, take the opportunity to reach out to your family and friends—it’s a tradition that reminds us of the importance of connection.
NW: What excites you most about this year’s Lunar New Year concert with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra?
WF: I’m thrilled to collaborate with conductor Naomi Woo for this concert—she’s the first woman conductor I’ve worked with professionally, which feels especially meaningful. Performing in the magnificent Roy Thomson Hall for such an important occasion is truly an honour.
I’m particularly excited to perform Tan Dun’s piece, which holds personal significance for me. I’ve admired his music since I was a teenager studying composition at the China Conservatory of Music.
NW: Can you share your thoughts on Tan Dun’s Zheng Concerto and why it resonates with you?
WF: Tan Dun’s ability to bring ancient sounds into dialogue with contemporary orchestral music is extraordinary, and this concerto represents a profound blending of the traditional and the modern. It is rooted in the traditions of his hometown in Hunan province, inspired by rituals, like the “ghost opera,” that are deeply tied to the region’s history and cultural ceremonies. These customs have a rich, mysterious beauty that makes the piece feel both avant-garde and timeless.
As a performer, I also appreciate the freedom Tan Dun gives the soloist to improvise, allowing me to bring my own voice to the work. It’s an honour to share this piece, especially in the context of the Lunar New Year.
NW: What would you like the audience to take away from this concert?
WF: I hope the audience experiences something entirely new, something they haven’t encountered before. For new immigrants or those familiar with Chinese folk tunes, this concert can evoke a sense of home—a connection to the sounds of their homeland. At the same time, it invites curiosity about what’s possible when traditional and modern worlds collide.
This music opens up endless possibilities, blending nostalgia with forward-looking energy. My hope is that audiences leave feeling inspired and excited about the incredible work the Toronto Symphony is doing to bring diverse voices and stories to the stage.
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See Wu Fei live on stage at Year of the Snake: A Lunar New Year Celebration. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of music, culture, and tradition. Learn more about the TSO’s Lunar New Year celebrations.