Image © Han Shuo
A recent Composer-in-Residence at the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Du Wei is a composer whose music is steeped in Chinese culture. Her work Niao Qing Si - The Interrupted Dream marries two traditional Chinese instruments with orchestra and was awarded the top honour at the 2011 Young Composer Programme organised by the National Centre of Performing Arts in Beijing.
Seven Nights, written for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra whilst under their Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Composer-in-Residence programme in 2015, takes its title from the book of the same name by Jorge Luis Borges. His words ‘The nightmare may be the fable of the night’ particularly struck Du Wei whilst writing the piece and this text colours the atmosphere of a sound world which further characterises Borges’ fantasy, humour and wisdom.
The imagery, hue and rhythm presented in poetry and literature is a primary inspiration for Du Wei, and her ability to transform these elements into her musical language is clearly evident.
The Color of Love was premiered by the Royal Danish Ballet in 2006 with choreographer Yuan Yuan Wang, with Wang’s bold choreography reflected by a musical score conveying a narrative of a passionate, but turbulent, relationship.
Du Wei has won numerous awards in China and her compositions have been performed all over the world by the Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of Charles Dutoit, MDR Leipzig Radio Orchestra conducted by Kristjan Jarvi, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestra of the Royal Danish Ballet, the Nieuw Ensemble (The Netherlands), TIMF Ensemble (Korea) and Ensemble Dialog (Switzerland).
In addition, she has also composed for screen and TV productions, such as the film I am not Madame Bovary (2016) directed by Feng Xiaogang, The Warrior And The Wolf , a film directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang, A Dream in Red Mansions (2010), the TV drama series directed by Li Shaohong, and Heart Sutra (sung by Faye Wong) for the film After Shock, directed by Feng Xiaogang.
