In 2019, Yu, worried that the stories of Jewish refugees in his hometown were being forgotten, came up with the idea for the piece. He approached the New York Philharmonic, which has had a partnership with the Shanghai Symphony since 2014, about commissioning the work together. Yu said he never expected the oratorio to premiere in wartime but hoped that its message would still resonate. Yu has long known Zigman, who has composed more than 60 Hollywood scores, including “The Notebook,” and he and Thibaudet suggested the idea for a tango concerto. “Our project is really about bridging cultures and humanity and love, hope, loss and tragedy,” Zigman said.

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Persons: Yu, ”, Jean, Yves Thibaudet, Thibaudet, ” Zigman Organizations: New York Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony, Shanghai, Hollywood Locations: Asia, Europe, Nanjing