'Light of Liangzhu' China-US concert held in Hangzhou
The evening's performance began with Picturesque Zhejiang, which captivated the audience with the natural and cultural richness of the eastern province.
According to Guo Yijiang, director of the Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra, the concert featured two different versions of Spring River and Flowers in the Moonlight, inspired by the Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet Zhang Ruoxu's famous poem of the same title.
One version was composed by American composer Mason Bates, featuring baritone Liu Tao and soprano Yu Xianyao. The other was a pipa and orchestra piece created by Chinese composers Wu Zuqiang and Liu Dehai. Pipa virtuoso Yang Jing skillfully blended the mesmerizing sounds of the traditional Chinese four-stringed lute with the grandeur of symphonic music, earning thunderous applause.
The concert program also highlighted Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, known as the Pastoral Symphony, a piece the Philadelphia Orchestra performed during its first visit to China 52 years ago.
