Concert leads off 40th anniversary celebrations of China-Portugal ties

A concert given by Chinese erhu player Duan Chao and Portuguese guitarist and composer, Pedro Joia, was held at the Palace Museum on March 4, kicking off a yearlong celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Portugal. About 20 cultural events, covering music, cinema, theater, literature, as well as exhibitions, will be held in Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, with artists and performers from both countries involved.

During the concert, each musician had a solo performance of their own repertories. Duan, the erhu player, a soloist of China National Traditional Orchestra, played The Moon Over A Fountain by Chinese composer, Hua Yanjun, and Joia played Vivencias Imaginadas by Spanish flamenco composer, Vicente Amigo.

They also performed duets on three popular music pieces from the two countries, including You And Me, which was the theme song for the 2008 Summer Olympics - originally performed by Chinese singer Liu Huan and British soprano Sarah Brightman - Chinese ballad Jasmine Flower and Portuguese ballad, Lisbon Fado in A Minor.