When Sorrow Turns to Joy
Jon Jang
Artist BioThe singer Paul Robeson popularized African-American spirituals and work songs, redefining America to the world. Lanfang is primarily responsible for introducing Chinese operas to the world. When Sorrow Turns to Joy celebrates the contributions of these two men to world music and humanitarianism, and highlights the connections between their cultures. The work is a collaboration of pianist/composer Jon Jang and flutist/composer James Newton, with a libretto by poet/writer Genny Lim.
Jon Jang
San Francisco, CA
Jon Jang has performed at Alice Tully Hall, the Beijing International Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, the Walker Art Center, and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Ensemble. He has been commissioned to create work by the Library of Congress and the Kronos Quartet and has received funding from the NEA and the Rockefeller Foundation.