III. Presto

Zhou Long: The Future of Fire, for chorus and orchestra, revised 2003. With melodic material taken from a Shaanxi love song, Zhou's brief symphonic anthem vibrantly depicts his memories of farmers burning off dried grass to prepare the land for planting, but losing control of the flame to the passing wind - a vivid, if charitable, metaphor for the Cultural Revolution. With The Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Singapore, singing the piece's textless vocalise.
BBC Music Magazine: outstanding: 'This is a hugely seductive disc, full of gorgeous tunes and beautiful, intricate orchestral effects'; Klassik Heute: outstanding.