Zhi-Jong Wang & Ensemble Epoch Zhi-Jong Wang & Ensemble Epoch

• Shen Ye (b. 1977): Prelude:
• 1 Ye: Prelude 06:45
• Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945): Romanian Folk Dances, BB 68, Sz. 56:
• 2 Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, BB 68, Sz. 56: I 01:22
• 3 Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, BB 68, Sz. 56: II 00:37
• 4 Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, BB 68, Sz. 56: III 01:07
• 5 Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, BB 68, Sz. 56: IV 01:54
• 6 Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, BB 68, Sz. 56: V 00:31
• 7 Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances, BB 68, Sz. 56: VI 00:57
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893): The Nutcracker, Op. 71:
• 8 Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Les Mirlitons – Moderato assai 02:45
• 9 Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Var. I - Tempo di Tarantella 00:47
• 10 Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Var. II – Danse de la Fée-Dragée – Andante non troppo 02:32
• 11 Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Le Thé - Allegro moderato 01:16
• 12 Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Trépak - Molto vivace 01:20
• Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897): Hungarian Dance No. 1:
• 13 Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 1 03:35
• 14 Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 2 03:17
• 15 Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 3 02:49
• 16 Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 4 05:02
• 17 Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 5 02:42
• 18 Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 17 03:59
• 19 Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 7 02:16
• 20 Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 20 03:02
• 21 Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 19 02:30
• 22 Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 6 03:52
• Manuel de Falla (1876 - 1946): Ritual Fire Dance:
• 23 Falla: Ritual Fire Dance 04:22
• Total Runtime 59:19

Info for Zhi-Jong Wang & Ensemble Epoch

Experience the captivating artistry of Zhi-Jong Wang and her innovative chamber orchestra, Ensemble Epoch, with their latest album release, “Dances”. Founded in 2021 by graduates of the prestigious Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Ensemble Epoch is redefining the boundaries of classical music performance. “Dances” brings together an eclectic mix of compositions and arrangements, showcasing the ensemble’s remarkable versatility and unity.

From the ethereal beauty of Shen Ye’s “Prelude” to the vibrant rhythms of Bartók’s “Romanian Folk Dances,” this album is a testament to the ensemble’s dynamic range. The imaginative arrangements by contemporary composers Shen Ye and Dai Weiyi breathe new life into beloved classics such as Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” and Brahms’ “Hungarian Dances”. The album culminates in a breathtaking rendition of Manuel de Falla’s “Ritual Fire Dance,” demonstrating the ensemble’s exceptional skill and passion.

Zhi-Jong Wang’s visionary leadership and violin artistry paired with the ensemble’s cohesive performance style create a unique listening experience that transcends traditional classical music forms. Each track on “Dances” is a journey into a world of musical exploration, where the intimate connection between musicians and audience comes alive.

Zhi-Jong Wang, violin
Ensemble Epoch

Zhi-Jong Wang
made her solo debut at the age of 14 with Orchestre national de Lille under Sir Yehudi Menuhin in France, since then she has appeared as a soloist with various orchestras, including Orchestre National de Radio France, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Turku Symphony Orchestra, Konzerthausorcheser Berlin, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra amongst others. She collaborates with musicians such as Yehudi Menuhin, Yuri Temirkanov, Myung-Whun Chung, Gidon Kremer, Lynn Harrel, Matthias Bamert, Okko Kamu, John Storgårds, Lior Shambadal, Christian Arming, Muhai Tang, Xieyang Chen, Jia Lü, Guoyang Zhang, Yang Yang, Yi Zhang, Daye Lin, etc.

As well as performing the standard violin repertoire, Zhi-Jong is a passionate exponent of contemporary music, performing works by Gubaidulina, Lutoslawski, Schnittke, Ligeti, etc. In the recent seasons, she premiered Ana Sokolovic’s Commedia dell'arte III and Nikolai Badinski’s Violin Concerto No.2.

Following her first concert leading the orchestra from the violin with Ensemble Orchestral de Paris performing Mozart’s Violin Concerto no. 5 at the Cité de la Musique in Paris, ‘play-conducting’ has attracted Zhi-Jong’s interest and in recent seasons she has played/conducted Vivaldi/Piazzolla’s Four Seasons and several of the Mozart concerti.

Zhi-Jong is the laureate of many important competitions beginning with First Prize in the 1998 Yehudi Menuhin International Competition. In the same year, she also won the First Prize of the China National Violin Competition, where she was the youngest first prize winner ever. In the following years Zhi-Jong Wang has distinguished herself receiving prizes in the Sibelius Violin Competition, Lipizer Violin Competition, Tchaikovsky Competition, etc. Her achievements have attracted world-wide attention, in 2006 the China edition of Gramophone magazine featured her in a full-page report, and musical critics acclaimed her as “a rare new star in Asia”.

Zhi-Jong’s CD is released by Accentus Music. Her recent release includes Sibelius and Stravinsky violin concertos with Philharmonia Orchestra and conductor Thomas Sanderling. Her recent album features Chinese violin concertos, including He Zhanhao/Chen Gang “Butterfly Lovers” and Shen Ye “Violin Concerto”, collaborated with Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Yang Yang.

Zhi-Jong has studied at Shanghai Conservatory of Music with the renowned Chinese violinist Professor Lina Yu. Afterwards, she studied with Kolja Blacher at the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” Berlin, where she also worked as Professor Blacher’s assistant.

Zhi-Jong is currently professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and deputy director of Orchestral Instruments Department. She plays a Stradivarius 1716 kindly loaned by China Foundation, and uses Il Cannone by Larsen Strings.

Booklet for Zhi-Jong Wang & Ensemble Epoch