The Great Race

Available for over a year

Many years ago, the Jade Emperor of China held a race across a great river to decide the order of the years of the Zodiac. The Jade Emperor invited all the animals of the world, but only 12 chose to race. Some of the animals are clever and crafty, some are easily distracted but they all make it across the river and the Emperor rewards each animal by naming a year in the Zodiac after each one. Musicians from the BBC Philharmonic are joined by broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake and guest guzheng player Zi Lan Liao to share a musical re-telling of this ancient legend.