As part of our China in New York festival, from Monday, January 23 to Friday, January 27 at 12 noon with repeats at 7 pm on Q2 Music, composer Huang Ruo interviews a different Chinese-born composer who has lived in the United States and has become prominent to New York City audiences.
Born in 1972 in Tianjin, China, composer Lei Liang is now an Associate Professor of Music at the University of California in San Diego. His current travels have taken him to Rome, Italy as part of the 2011 Rome Prize. He's also the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Aaron Copland Award, and his composition Verge was commissioned for the inaugural season of the New York Philharmonic's CONTACT! new-music series.
In this interview with fellow composer Huang Ruo, Liang joins us from a studio in Rome to discuss his creative process, the importance of putting the weight of one's life into every sounding note, and the manner in which cultural identity manifests itself in his music.
The complete Q2 Music China in New York festival interviews:
Monday, January 23 at 12 noon and 7pm: Zhou Long
Tuesday, January 24 at 12 noon and 7 pm: Du Yun
Wednesday, January 25 at 12 noon and 7 pm: Lei Liang
Thursday, January 26 at 12 noon and 7 pm: Chou Wen-chung
Friday, January 27 at 12 noon and 7 pm: Min Xiao-fen