Orchestra adds harmony to landmark's offerings

A stunning national symphonic performance Grand Canal was recently staged in the newly completed Beijing Art Center as part of the 2023 China Grand Canal Cultural Belt Beijing-Hangzhou Dialogue and Beijing (International) Canal Cultural Festival, bringing a magnificent audiovisual feast to audiences.

Themed "Inheritance of Grand Canal Culture, Empowering a Better Life", the festival was jointly organized by the information office of the Beijing government, the information office of the Zhejiang provincial government, the Hangzhou government, China News Agency and the World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization.

Grand Canal, produced by Beijing Performance & Arts Group and created by the Beijing Chinese Orchestra, was one of the 11 themed events aimed at promoting the co-construction and sharing of cultural resources among cities along the Grand Canal, and enhancing the influence and dissemination of the Grand Canal cultural belt in China.

Performed by hundreds of musicians from the ethnic orchestras of eight provinces and cities along the Grand Canal, it combined various elements such as Chinese folk music, popular music and avant-garde experimental music. The work is based on the historical development, functions and cultural resources along the canal, and extracts six representative themes to depict the rich and brilliant canal culture through majestic and heartfelt melodies.

"Through this work, we hope to allow more audiences to experience the charm of the ancient Grand Canal," said Dong Ning, deputy general manager of Beijing Performance & Arts Group.

Li Changjun, director of the Beijing Chinese Orchestra, said: "Collaborating with orchestras from seven provinces and cities is a particularly meaningful endeavor. Through Grand Canal, we aim to further enhance communication between orchestras along the canal."

In addition to the music feast, the following day witnessed the unveiling of the outdoor "Art and Rhyme of the Grand Canal" Beijing-Hangzhou Yaji cultural event, in which artists from Beijing and Hangzhou boated on the Grand Canal, engaging in discussions, calligraphy, painting and dance.

Xu Ming, deputy director of the Hangzhou Yueju Opera Theater and winner of the Plum Blossom Award, the highest award for Chinese drama performing arts, performed a show with young actors Chen Qingyao and Jin Yujiao.

This exquisite and sincere piece showcased the artistic charm of Song Dynasty (960-1279) poetry and the flavor of Yueju Opera.

Wang Yinghui, artistic director of the Beijing Hebei Bangzi Opera Troupe and winner of the Plum Blossom Award, stepped onto the stage in magnificent traditional opera costumes to present the Hebei Bangzi opera Ding Du.

Renowned dancer Wei Shenzhou performed a solo dance piece titled Water Rhyme, expressing the various dynamics and vitality of water, narrating the endless vitality of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

wangjinhui@chinadaily.com.cn