The first block: celebrate 60th anniversary with stars

The National Grand Theatre and Chinese Musicians Association jointly planned a series of concerts of traditional Chinese music to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, ranging from October 2 to November 22. They were an opening chapter of the One Hundred Concerts of Chinese Folk Music. The 12 concerts of traditional Chinese music, of diversified styles and elegant tastes, would lead music fans to traverse through the “era of classical music”.

They comprised 10 famous Chinese folk music orchestras, such as Chinese National Orchestra, Taipai Chinese Orchestra, Macao Chinese Orchestra, and Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, 11 conductors of Chinese folk music, and 78 pieces of classical Chinese folk music. First-class Chinese folk musicians and performers, like Li Xiangting, Song Fei, Dai Ya, and Yu Hongmei, impressed audiences with an ace in the hole. World famous violinist Chai Liang and cellist Wang Jian also showed their talents to play traditional Chinese music with western instruments.

In addition to the famous performers, the first block was known for meticulously chosen playlist. Despite they were all about Chinese folk music, the 12 concerts flied their own colors with their own merits.

Chinese National Orchestra gave priority to classical works of A Night of Flowers and Moonlight by the Spring River and Pleasant Night. Guangdong National Music Orchestra put forward Guangdong music of Chaozhou Gong and Drum Music and Wu Jia Tou, boasting rich local features. Shanghai National Music Orchestra commissioned four composers to create five classic and yet modern pieces of music on “bells, drums, songs, dances and music”. China Broadcast Traditional Orchestra combined Chinese and western styles to play classical Chinese and western music works Nessun Dorma, Jasmine Flower, and Northwest China Suite.

Editor: Wen Yi