“What you have with Shanghai Sonatas is a combination of elements that rarely all come together in one package. There is a compelling story that few know but that must be told. There are intriguing characters from contrasting cultures. There is captivating music from a variety of genres and traditions. There are educational materials tailored to people of all ages. And there is at the heart of the Shanghai Sonatas the creator Xiang Gao whose rich experiences as composer, performer, educator, and presenter combine into a production assured to have wide-ranging appeal. “
“Shanghai Sonatas brilliantly shows the power of music to build bridges across cultures and find the shared humanity among the Shanghai Chinese and 20,000 European Jewish refugees in the 1940’s. The refugee musicians changed the course of classical music as they taught Chinese students and introduced them to the beauty of the classical music world. Creatively weaving together musical traditions from classical works, klezmer, show tunes, and Beijing opera, this well-researched, inspiring musical drama brings to the stage a little-known but significant facet of history.”
“As a Holocaust Survivor and former Shanghai Jewish Refugee, I was honored to be part of the creation of Shanghai Sonatas, the new musical, as its volunteer consultant. Professor Xiang Gao succeeded in his task of telling the still little known story of 20,000 Jewish refugees who found a haven from Nazi persecution in Shanghai in 1939. Since the story is told with music, dance and particularly violins that survived the war from Violins of Hope, it is suitable for all age groups and sends a message of hope and survival under difficult circumstances. It is particularly important today to teach the world that people of good will can and will make this a better world. ”
