The latest program of the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA), The World Music Series, presented Russia’s traditional culture on January 23rd, including a China-Russia Music Dialogue Concert, a Flute Quintet Music Presentation, a Russian Folk Choir Presentation, a Russian Music Salon and a photo exhibition of Russian landscapes.

Russia was the first country to be presented in the series. The aim of the new program, according to NCPA, is to showcase excellent folk art forms of various cultures in the world.

During China-Russia Music Dialogue Concert by the symphony orchestra from Music School of Harbin Normal University that morning, Russian and Chinese artists sang the counterpart country’s classical music pieces and used that country’s language. The song I Love You, China by Russian soprano Ayusheva Elena won great acclaim from the audience.

A retired worker named Li Lanzhi, also an art devotee said after the performance, this show was fantastic, “while singing I Love You, China in Chinese, the Russian singer is full of emotion and her pronunciation is excellent.”

While being asked why a Chinese classical music piece could be shown so excellently, Ayusheva Elena said it’s because of her interest for China. “I have seen CDs of Chinese artists earlier, awesome! Although I don’t read Chinese, my Chinese teacher tells me the pronunciation and I mark them by pinyin.” This is her first time coming to China, and Elena hoped she could spare some time to visit the Great Wall and The Imperial Palace.

Besides, the Russian violinist Anchevskaya Ariadna who played during the violin concerto The Butterfly Lovers was also well received. According to NCPA, China’s well-known composer Wu Zuqiang, after watching the symphony concert, said that the meaning beyond The Butterfly Lovers by Anchevskaya Ariadna was well conveyed.