Cultural Exchanges in January

4、Chinese Orchestra Tours Europe, Africa

China Huaxia National Orchestra, which specializes in traditional Chinese music under the China Conservatory of Music (CCM), will give performances in Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Luxembourg, Germany and Egypt from January 30.

"The tour to Italy, Luxembourg and Germany by a traditional Chinese music troupe is a ground-breaking event," said Zhang Weiliang, director of the Huaxia orchestra at Saturday's press conference.

In 1998, traditional Chinese music was first performed in the Golden Concert Hall of Vienna, to audience acclaim. It was the first time a European audience had been able to listen in to live traditional Chinese music.

Zhang, a tutor in the CCM musical instrument department, said the tour performances will include seven numbers -- the percussion instrument concerto The Sun, two Gu Qin solos Lang Tao Sha and Dragon Dance, an Erhu solo Beijing Dream, Chinese New Year Eve from the Northwestern Suite, the flute solo Flower Tears, and an instrumental ensemble Mu Guiying, the Female General.

Zhang said the pieces are all the work of modern Chinese composers such as Tan Dun, Chen Qigang and Guo Wenjing.

Editor: Li Jing