SF Symphony Celebrates 25 Years of Lunar New Year Festivities

This year marks the 25th anniversary of one of San Francisco’s most beloved society soirees, and the SF Symphony celebrated the occasion in a fittingly lavish style. The Lunar New Year: Year of the Serpent Concert and Banquet took place on February 8, and saw Symphony supporters and music lovers swarm Davies Symphony Hall for an unforgettable night of festivities, feasting and music. The special anniversary event was an elegant celebration of the Lunar New Year, highlighting the importance of Asian art and traditions in San Francisco’s cultural life. 

The Lunar New Year concert began with a thrilling Dragon dance down the aisles of the concert hall. Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong then joined the Orchestra for performances of works by Asian composers including An-Lun Huang, Huan-zhi Li, Shuying Li, and Tian Zhou, with guest appearances by pipa player Wu Man, performing Zhao Jiping’s Pipa Concerto No. 2, and Assistant Principal Cello Amos Yang, performing selections from Chen Gang and He Zhanhao’s The Butterfly Lovers Concerto. The Orchestra also performed the world premiere of The Phoenix Ascends, a new San Francisco Symphony commission by composer Shuying Li. Following the concert, lucky partygoers were treated to a lavish 5-course banquet that included caviar, shiitake noodles with bok choy and romanesco, and a chocolate ginger pot de crème with dragon fruit and golden kiwi. Proceeds from the SF Symphony’s Lunar New Year event support the Symphony’s community and educational programs, which benefit thousands of students throughout the Bay Area.