Musical mix lights up Sydney show

SYDNEY - The Sydney Conservatorium of Music staged the Middle Kingdom Festival on Tuesday night, showcasing a blend of Eastern and Western music by world-class performers and marking the Lantern Festival in the harbor city.

A range of Chinese and Australian singers and musicians from some of the highest musical institutions in their countries proved their proficiency in Italian and Chinese opera by performing works from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to the present day, featuring composers from the baroque and romantic eras right through to Andrea Bocelli.

While the event featured more than 15 artists, at the center of it all was concert chairman and artistic director, Chai Changning. A longtime resident of Sydney, Chai is widely recognized as one of the best Chinese flutists of his generation.