![](https://sagg.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ming-wong.jpg)
At a time of rising tensions between the United States and China, artist Ming Wong presents a musical lecture performance that traces the journey of Sino-American “ping-pong” diplomacy, starting with President Richard Nixon’s historic state visit to communist China and his meeting with Chairman Mao Zedong 50 years ago. Evoking an international piano competition and a table tennis match, two classical pianists collaborate on and improvise a performative unification of the sonic regimes of the US and China.
In a ping-pong double concerto accompanied by archival moving images and spoken word, they explore the role of European classical music, modernism and myth-making in the rise of these two nations in the 20th century. From table tennis and television to tanks and trade wars, Rhapsody in Yellow – A Lecture Performance with Two Pianos charts the changing balance of power between the two nations, in a duet of discord and harmony, chaos and serendipity, humour and pathos.
Jointly presented by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Singapore Art Museum, as part of The Studios 2024.
Venue: Singtel Waterfront Theatre, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
When: 16 - 17 Aug 2024,
By: Esplanade