Decca signs renowned Chinese composer Tan Dun

Decca Classics, a London-based record label under Universal Music Group, has signed a major new recording partnership with multi-award-winning Chinese composer and conductor Tan Dun.

A photo of Tan Dun. [Photo courtesy of Decca Classics]

"Decca has always been a dream for me. As a young artist, I could never have imagined that one day we would embrace each other," Tan said in a statement." I feel deeply honored to be part of it."

Decca Classics, founded in 1929, is one of the world's most iconic classical music labels and has a long history of working with some of the biggest names in classical music, including Luciano Pavarotti, Dame Vera Lynn and Bing Crosby.

Tan's first single from his "Five Souls" EP, "WE (West East)," was released on Thursday, with the full digital EP set to be released on Mar. 3. Tan describes the EP as "a journey from the universe to the metaverse where we discover our spirit, who we are and what we are meant to be." The five movements for small ensemble feature water percussion, harp, brass, strings and digeridoo.

Decca Classics' first major new album with Tan, to be released on Apr. 7, will be the world premiere recording of "Buddha Passion," a monumental work involving massed choirs, a large orchestra, six percussionists and an array of soloists, including indigenous singers and traditional Chinese instruments. The "Passion" is based on a Buddhist narrative, according to a press release.

Another major world premiere recording, "The Tears of Nature," is set to follow in September. The 25-minute percussion concerto was written in response to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, the 2011 Japanese Tsunami and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, all of which affected Tan personally.

"We are so proud to welcome Tan Dun to Decca," said Tom Lewis and Laura Monks, co-presidents of Decca Label Group, in a statement. "He is a global statesman for classical music; arguably one of the most inventive, energetic and warm-hearted composers alive. His story is quite extraordinary. He embodies the sometimes unimaginable and unique way in which music can change your life."

"I have two goals in my heart: I don't just want to establish a musical idea… I want to develop a cross-cultural idea that brings nature and classical music, ancient and modern, together," Tan Dun said. He conducted the U.K. premiere of "Buddha Passion" at London's Royal Festival Hall last month, a performance met with glowing reviews from critics.

The cover art of Tan Dun's new EP "Five Souls" and the album "Buddha Passion." [Image courtesy of Decca Classics]

Tan Dun, 65, is a native of Simao village in central China's Hunan province and is now one of the world's most exciting composers. His musical prowess was showcased to the world with his award-winning score for Ang Lee's martial arts film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," which earned him an Oscar, BAFTA, and Grammy. The UNESCO Global Goodwill Ambassador has also scored music for several significant global events, including Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the celebration of the new millennium and the Beijing Olympics. He has also written music for some of the biggest names in music, including Lang Lang, and many of the world's leading orchestras. Tan also holds the distinction of being the first composer ever commissioned by Google/YouTube.

Decca Classics will also release five previously unavailable catalog albums from Tan.