The 14th "Concert on the Green" wrapped up at Shanghai Chenshang Botanical Garden in the city's Songjiang district on Sunday, offering audience a healing experience that delicately blended classic music and diverse interactive activities in a natural setting.
The annual two-day event featured a dazzling lineup of classic maestros from both home and abroad, including notable pianist Kong Xiangdong and violinist Lyu Siqing from China, conductor Sergey Smbatyan with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra from Armenia, and Thomas Sondergard with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
It was the second time that Kong joined this concert, but the first time to collaborate with conductor Smbatyan and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. Together they performed the Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor, Op 18) composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff, a piece with significant meaning for Kong.
"This piece is one of my favorites and has accompanied me for many, many years. It brought me to tears when I first heard it at 14, and it was also a meaningful piece for my mentor. I feel honored to have the first chance to perform it with the brilliant orchestra here in Shanghai," Kong said.
Smbatyan, artistic director and chief conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, was also excited about their first outdoor concert in China at the garden. With several masterpieces from Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian on the list, the conductor saw the performance as "a great opportunity and big pleasure" to deliver their homeland music to the massive Chinese audience.
"We love Chinese audience, and are more than happy to be here to present new pieces. Armenian music is very bright, and Khachaturian's music presents our traditions, expressions and our country. I'm thankful to our friends who always bring us to China, as we are like a bridge between the two countries," Smbatyan said.
In addition to the feast of classic music, this year's event also highlighted an integrated healing experience combining music, plant, game and talk show therapies, aiming to help visitors get relaxed and relieved from stress of life.
"People today all busy and struggling with anxiety, so did I. I've come out of an eight-year battle with depression, thanks to music and love. Music could touch our hearts and transcend languages. We hope our audience can feel the love in music, get the courage to face challenges in life, overcome them and shine," Kong said.
