Into Dunhuang: Soundscapes Of The Silk Road Tickets and Dates

This is an in-person only event in the British Library Pigott Theatre

Join us for an enchanting evening as three renowned artists present a repertoire inspired by the ancient traditions of Dunhuang and the Silk Road. Ngawang Lodup (mandolin and dranyen), Shohret Nur (dutar and rawap), and Wu Fei (guzheng/zither) have contributed to the evocative soundscapes featured in the exhibition - A Silk Road Oasis: Life in Ancient Dunhuang.

Drawing from source material along the Silk Road, these musicians have crafted a rich tapestry of melodies and rhythms. In this special concert, they showcase both solo performances and collaborative improvisations, building on Dunhuang’s vibrant musical legacy and creating a dialogue between past and present. Wu Fei, a virtuoso and celebrated guzheng player based in Nashville, USA, makes her debut UK performance.

Wu Fei is a classically trained composer, vocalist, and master of the guzheng – the 21-string Chinese zither. Her compositions combine influences from both Western classical and Chinese musical traditions. Wu has also collaborated with artists from different genres, including the Philadelphia Orchestra; Grammy-winning musicians Béla Fleck, Abigail Washburn, and Jeff Coffin; oud master Shanir Blumenkranz; composers John Zorn and Fred Frith; and Emmy-winning director Pierce Freelon.

Ngawang Lodup is a renowned Tibetan mountain and folk singer based in the UK, known for performing traditional Tibetan nomadic ballads and contemporary folk songs on electric mandolin and dranyen lute. Ngawang has performed across the UK and Europe and has appeared in a range of music festivals including WOMAD, Shamba and Greenbelt. He became the first ‘World Music’ artist to join the “BBC Introducing” initiative and performed at the O2 Arena for the Dalai Lama.

A Uyghur native from Kashgar, Shohret Nur is a music virtuoso on dutar and rawap. He studied these two Uyghur signature instruments at Xinjiang Arts Institute and was trained as a professional artist at the Institute’s acclaimed nationwide orchestra. Shohret is now a leading artist at various ensembles across Turkey and the UK, including the Istanbul Uyghur Sanat Ensemble and the Miras Silk Road Ensemble. Shohret is currently a research associate at SOAS, University of London.

Produced in association with The China Database for Traditional Music (CDTM).
The China Database for Traditional Music (cdtmusic.com) is a world leading organisation for the preservation, restoration and promotion of traditional music from China and the wider Sinophone region.

This event accompanies the British Library exhibition A Silk Road Oasis: Life in Ancient Dunhuang (27 September – 23 February 2025)

Image of Shohret Nur by Xiaoshi Wei
Image of Wu Fei by AnnaPaola Martin based on a photo by Bett Warren

Half price tickets available for Members, Students, Under 26 and other concession groups.

Doors and Bar open at 18:30. If you’re attending in person, please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event.

@eventsBL

The British Library is a charity. Your support helps us open up a world of knowledge and inspiration for everyone. Donate today.