About

China Court Trio

The China Court Trio is a Toronto-based ensemble that specializes in court repertoires and traditional folk music from the Ming and Qing dynasties of China. The China Court Trio was founded and led by Canada acclaimed Pipa virtuoso Wen Zhao. The Trio has performed in diverse projects including the Marco Polo concert project with Toronto Consort, the Chinese New Year concert at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts; the Silk and Bamboo concert at the Toronto Music Garden; and, the Canada Opera Company’s Free Concert Series at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. They have also been invited to collaborate on cross-cultural projects with orchestras and choirs in Canada, including the Toronto Chamber Choir and the Canadian Sinfonietta orchestra.

In the Spring Salon concert, the trio will showcase the three major plucked instruments: Pipa (Chinese Lute), GuZheng (Chinese Zither) and Yangqin (Chinese Dulcimer). The program will feature Ming and Qing Dynasty's poem repertories including Farewell to Yangguan and Moonlight Over Spring River, two of the most famous pieces in Chinese history. The three musicians will also perform folk melodies from diverse regions, including the Yellow River Song from the Northern mountain region, and the colourful Silk and Bamboo Melody hailing from the beautiful Southern provinces. They will also perform Tea House Music, a type of improvisational music popular in the Yantze River area during the the Qing dynasty.