Chamber Opera - Tonight, I’ll Be Free, awarded the 3rd China Chamber opera Composition Promoting Project Prize, was performed and recorded in Beijing. It reflects a historical problem of human trafficking that has existed for a long time in Chinese society, where young women are treated as products, abducted and sold into slavery. The criminals kidnap the victims in various ways and cruelly abuse them for a certain time just in case their escaping. After that, they sell the victims to villagers in the mountainous areas far away from modern society as fertility machines. Once they are caught, they will never be free again.

This piece tells the story of a young national hero in Chinese history—Huo Qubing (140 BC – 117 BC), a brilliant military general of the Western Han dynasty during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. At just 18 years old, Huo Qubing led 800 light cavalrymen deep into the Gobi Desert—modern-day Mongolia—striking a decisive blow against the Xiongnu nomadic confederation. His daring raid not only defeated the Chanyu's grandfather but also eliminated over 2,000 enemy troops and captured numerous Xiongnu nobles. In 121 BC, Emperor Wu sent Huo Qubing on two major campaigns in the Hexi Corridor. His victories crushed the Xiongnu princes of Hunxie and Xiutu, securing this crucial region for the Han Dynasty. This triumph paved the way for the Northern Silk Road, linking China directly to Central Asia. It also introduced superior horse breeds, including the famed Ferghana horse—ancestors of today’s Akhal-Teke—further strengthening the Han cavalry. Huo Qubing remains one of the most celebrated military commanders in Chinese history. The historian Ban Gu of the Eastern Han Dynasty honored his achievements in the Book ofHan: "The Champion ofPiaoji, fast and brave. Six long-distance assaults, like lightning and thunder. Watering horses at Lake Baikal, conducting rituals at Khentii Mountains. Conquering the lands west ofthe Great Water, establishing commanderies along Qilian Mountains." Yet, his brilliance was fleeting—Huo Qubing died at the young age of 23. His legend lives on, encapsulated in an old saying: “Famous generals are like beauties; they are not allowed to grow old.” Musically, this piece captures the essence of his story through sweeping glissandi, evoking the sounds of traditional instruments. The composition is deeply inspired by the folk songs of nomadic peoples, particularly their long tunes, reflecting the vast landscapes and untamed spirit of the steppe. Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble - performed in Beijing (Beijing Modern Music Festival 2025)

Link to the programm: ENG: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D5KXMVgLKYzNl1H5eIyiFhlwAlHQ-ouE/view?usp=sharing ITA: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PXv2DnFBpAlnNVjaAwiUkKAFjc9HEWCR/view?usp=sharing We have reached the final stage of the femfestival 2021. Today's concert closes the "Women Composers" International Competition: one of the main activities of the femfestival. It is a music festival in which composers from all continents participate and in which different styles and languages blend into a unique sound mosaic. Tonight we will listen to the pieces selected by the International Jury of the Competition from over 100 scores in the race. These works represent the deep creative research occurring, globally, in the compositional field. The orchestra rehearsals have been a stimulating comparison between composers and performers: a real workshop of study and exploration of the new languages arriving from the world. A meeting between cultures, made of growth and mutual updates. It is no coincidence that the Manifattura Tabacchi opens its doors to this project: it has always been a place of rebirth, oriented to a dialogue with contemporary culture. From the experience of the Femfestival it clearly emerges that contemporary music today cannot disregard the dialogue between the different cultures of the world and from contamination, considered as an enrichment of one's own tradition. And women can show the way, with their courage to open up and let themselves be, so to speak, fertilized by different cultures. This generates something new, which also extends to a political and social value, because multicultural dialogue has the ability to generate and bring peace. The Femfestival becomes a place, physical and virtual, where different ideas and cultures meet and relate in order to renew themselves. Today, with great emotion and gratitude, we wish to remember all the composers who, from all over the world, participated in the competition and in the other activities of the festival, those who will be here tonight and the ones connected remotely during this live show.

National Symphony Orchestra Gavin Maloney conductor David Fennessy composer mentor Amelia Clarkson New work Finola Merivale New work Barry O’Halpin New work Yue Song New work Composer Lab 2024 culminates with the world premiere performances of four works, developed as part of Composer Lab 2024, by up-and-coming composers Amelia Clarkson, Finola Merivale, Barry O’Halpin and Yue Song. Composer Lab is a professional development initiative delivered in partnership by the National Symphony Orchestra and the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland, in association with RTÉ lyric fm. Presented by NCH in partnership with CMC & RTÉ lyric fm

Written for clarinet ensemble, this piece depicts the winds in the wilderness. Maybe in forests, maybe in the desert, maybe on plains, maybe in mountains...... Winds blow freely from different directions, they meet, they part, they chase, they merge...... Starting in silence, ending in the distance. TU Dublin Clarinet Ensemble

Stories in the Wind, for bass clarinet and electronics. When you are outside feeling the wind, listening to the stories in the wind. Everything you hear from the wind reflects the inner voice of yourself. The story is joyful or sad, peaceful or warm…... The colour of the stories actually comes from your inner world. This is one of a series of pieces involving a collaboration with clarinetist Marcella Barz. It relates to her doctoral research project “Creating a Sound-world with Live Processing and Sensors: An artistic exploration”.

Third placed in A category at "Women Composers Competition" with "Yue Song – Who would have the courage to carry such a heavy past with us?".