Music festival offers spectacular performances

Artists from home and abroad performed musical masterpieces at the 2023 Shenzhen Belt and Road International Music Festival Opening Concert held recently at Shenzhen Concert Hall in Futian District.

The opening concert was divided into two parts with a total of 12 pieces integrating Eastern and Western cultures, as well as classical and modern elements.

The famous symphony “In the Steppes of Central Asia” kicked off this year’s Belt and Road International Music Festival. The piece was composed by Alexander Porphyrievitch Borodin from Russia.

The first half of the opening concert was conducted by renowned conductor Ciprian Teodorascu.

Angela Gheorghiu, a gifted opera singer, sang two popular songs, “Habanera” from “Carmen” and “Ebben? Ne andrò lontana” from “La Wally”.

Angela Gheorghiu performs at the opening concert. Liu Xudong

The second half of the concert was conducted by Lin Daye, the music director and principal conductor of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO).

The Shenzhen-produced vocal symphonic suite “Ode to Heroes” brought the concert to a successful conclusion.

Ye Xiaogang, director of the organizing committee of the Belt and Road International Music Festival, described the music festival as a musical “kaleidoscope” that offers a diverse array of musical styles for the audience to enjoy.

Karen Kocharyan from Armenia collaborated with musicians from France, Italy and China in a piece titled “Dancing Silk Road.”

Sahib Pashazade, a tar player, expressed his excitement at playing in Shenzhen and collaborating with the amazing SZSO.

The music festival will run for nearly two months, concluding Oct. 31, with a total of 59 performances scheduled at various venues throughout the city. These venues include Shenzhen Concert Hall, Bay Opera of Shenzhen, Longgang Cultural Center, Shenzhen Poly Theater, Pingshan Theater, and Guangming Culture & Art Center.

The Shenzhen Belt and Road International Music Festival is a national event held in Shenzhen, which aims to create a broad platform for convergence, integration, exchange and interaction. It serves as a showcase for the rich musical heritage of countries and regions along the Belt and Road.

Since its inception in 2017, the festival has become a vital platform for sharing the stories of Shenzhen, Guangdong, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and China with the world.