The dusty Silk Road city of Kashgar in Western China and the bustling metropolis of Vancouver have more in common than it may seem: They are both cultural crossroads on tried-and-true trade routes and sonic crucibles cooking up intercultural sounds. Harnessing these possibilities is the Vancouver-based Orchid Ensemble, a trio of Chinese, Taiwanese, and Canadian musicians turning the traditions of the Pacific Rim into elegant, intercultural chamber music by challenging the ancient instruments and classical canons of both East and West.  more >>