Richard Clayderman's concert charms Yucun village

Richard Clayderman stages a concert in Yucun village, located in Anji county, Huzhou, Zhejiang province on July 8. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

An enchanting evening unfolded on July 8 in Yucun village, located in Anji county, Huzhou, as the world-renowned pianist Richard Clayderman graced the stage, captivating nearly 1,000 spectators with his virtuoso performance.

Since his debut in China in 1992, Clayderman has staged over 2,000 performances in the country. He has made more adaptations and renditions of Chinese musical works than any other non-Chinese artist. The concert in Yucun marks the first outdoor performance of his China tour this year.

In a heartwarming gesture, Clayderman invited 16 budding Anji pianists to share the stage with him, adding a touch of local talent to the international spectacle.

Anji resident Ms Chen shared her excitement, stating, "Previously, I could only enjoy his music through videos and recordings. To have the privilege of hearing such exquisite piano melodies right at my doorstep today is truly amazing."

An official at the government of Tianhuangping town, overseeing Yucun village, emphasized the concert's significance, saying, "Through the universal language of music, we aim to showcase our modernized, environmentally conscious Chinese village to the world."

Once plagued by pollution, Yucun has undergone a great transformation, emerging as a thriving rural tourism hotspot thanks to its unwavering commitment to sustainable development principles, epitomized by the adage "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable asset".

Looking to the future, Yucun aspires to host a myriad of international, top-tier events to broaden its global network of friends, the official affirmed.