Music embracing a diverse community

On Tuesday afternoon, a gathering of several dozen Badeng Community residents in Futian District convened at their community service center to attend a complimentary concert jointly hosted by Shenzhen Concert Hall and a local music conservatory.

Soprano Zhou Ni, alongside pianist Luo Xu, leading a group of gifted students from the music school of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen), delivered a vocal concert featuring a diverse selection of both Chinese and Western classics.

Soprano Zhou Ni performs during a public benefit concert in Badeng Community, Futian District on Tuesday afternoon. Courtesy of Shenzhen Concert Hall

Opening the show was a piano solo of the melodious Cantonese piece “Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon,” leading into the ethnic Korean folk song “Janggu Drum Dance,” the Mongolian folk song “The Sky,” and composer Wang Luobin’s piece “Beneath the Silver Moonlight,” inspired by a Russian folk tune.

The repertoire further delighted the audience with the classical “Flower Duet” from Léo Delibes’ opera “Lakmé,” the renowned Italian song “Mamma” composed by Cesare Andrea Bixio in 1940, and various Chinese folk melodies from Fujian and Guangdong. The concert culminated in a joyous performance of the Xinjiang Uygur folk song “A Glass of Wine,” drawing fervent applause and cheers from the audience.

A young woman in the audience, overwhelmed with delight, said, “I never imagined experiencing such exquisite vocal performances right in my neighborhood. One particular melodious Mongolian piece transported me back to the expansive grasslands of my hometown!”

Badeng, a densely populated community comprising residents from 32 ethnic minorities, is home to China’s first community library showcasing intangible cultural heritage, a testament to the local authorities’ commitment to fostering cultural exchanges among residents.

Following the concert, a senior community official expressed gratitude for the organizers, saying, “This exceptional concert strengthens the bond among our citizens and fosters a deeper appreciation for each other’s cultural legacies.”

For 17 years, Shenzhen Concert Hall has orchestrated public benefit concerts not only within its premises but also in schools, hospitals, and various communities, bringing music and joy to every corner of the city.