The Bermuda Philharmonic Societyends its 2003-4 musical season on Saturday with a gala international evening conducted by Dr. Gary Burgess that will include best-loved operatic arias and choruses featuring visiting soloists, and also the local premi?re of the ?Yellow River Piano Concerto?, performed by Chinese American pianist Long Wu.

The concerto survived the inevitable limitations and restrictions imposed by the new rulers of China when they came to power in 1949, and continued to enjoy great popularity. It is based on the famous ?Yellow River Cantata?, a work dating from the period of the Sino-Japanese war, and devised by a committee of composers. The solo piano texture is reminiscent of the ?Warsaw Concerto? and Rachmaninov. Although the it condenses the Cantata, the same heroic message is carried.

Shanghai-born Dr. Long Wu was a child prodigy who made his piano debut at age 14 playing all of Chopin?s Etudes and Preludes. Following studies at Beijing?s Central Conservatory of Music, he was the accompanist for the Chinese Army Chorus, winning critical acclaim.

In 1989 Dr. Wu became an exchange visiting scholar at the State University of New York at Buffalo. For five seasons he was resident accompanist for the Greater Buffalo Opera Company. He was also the most sought-after accompanist for master classes, whose students included Bermuda?s Dr. Gary Burgess, conductor of the Bermuda Philharmonic Society orchestra and chorus.

Dr. Wu?s many accomplishments include gaining his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Boston University, where he was also coach for its Opera Institute. A recording artist who has released six CDs, he has also performed as a concert pianist for the past 25 years in many European countries, as well as South Africa, Scandinavia, North America, and the Far East. Currently, Dr. Wu is the music director of the biennial Mondial Chinese Vocalist Concours in Rome. In Taipei, Taiwan he was honoured as ?The Light of China? for his outstanding performance and work.

The Opera Galawill feature some of the most opera?s most famous and best-loved arias and duets, including ?Nessun Dorma?, to be sung by Koren tenor Dongwon Shin; ?Pace, pace mio dio?, by US soprano Indra Thomas; ?In felice? from Verdi?s opera ?Ernani? by US bass Scott Rogers; and the duet from ?La Forza del Destino, which will be sung by Miss Thomas and Mr. Rogers.

The Philharmonic Orchestra will play two operatic overtures, while the Philharmonic chorus will sing famous selections from three operas: ?Nabucco?, ?Lucia di Lammamour? and the waltz scene from ?Eugene Onegin?.

Since receiving his Bachelor of Music degree from Seoul University, Korean tenorDongwon Shinhas gone on to win many prizes and awards for his singing. Among these he was a grand prize winner in his native country; first prize winner of the Music Association of Korea, and also the Bel Canto Competition of Chicago. Mr. Shin was a national finalist in last year?s Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions; second place winner of the Marian Anderson Award for Emerging Classical Artists (2002), and winner and Audience Favourite of last year?s Giargiari Bel Canto Competition. He will sing Canio in Opera Delaware?s production of ?I Pagliacci? next season.

Soprano Indra Thomasmade her professional debut as a soloist in the New York Choral Society?s production of Verdi?s ?Requiem? at Carnegie Hall. She has since sung this great work with the Baltimore Symphony, the National Symphony, the Utah Symphony, and at the Grand Teton Festival. She has had solo roles in a host of operas staged by such companies as the Minnesota Opera and the San Francisco Opera, and the Boston Lyric Opera. At the Metropolitan Opera she sang Liu in ?Turandot?. Her New York Philharmonic debut in excerpts from ?Porgy and Bess? took place on New Year?s eve, 2002 with Lorin Maazel conducting, which was televised live from the Lincoln Center.

Future engagements include her debuts with the Atlanta Opera in the title role of ?Aida?, and also with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Miss Thomas? first professional appearance was at age 18 when she sang ?What a Friend we have in Jesus? in the funeral scene of the film, ?Driving Miss Daisy?.

Scott Rogers(bass) is both a professional singer and a successful businessman who owns his own Philadelphia-based company, The Conant Corporation. He is vice-president of the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA), an advanced training centre for singers pursuing international operatic careers, where he also received training, as did Miss Thomas and Mr. Shin. Mr. Rogers has performed in 18 operatic productions, and currently studies with William Schuman in New York.

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