The Suzhou Chinese Orchestra performs at the 23rd Beijing Music Festival Oct 11. [Photo/people.com.cn]
The Suzhou Chinese Orchestra staged a performance featuring traditional string and woodwind instruments popular in Jiangnan, the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Oct 11 at the 23rd Beijing Music Festival, local media reported.
The orchestra became the first professional Chinese orchestra to be invited to perform at the event.
Four Chinese orchestra performances adapted from renowned Western classical music brought spectators a brand-new audio feast. Chrysanthemum Terrace, an ensemble piece presented by erhu (a two-stringed fiddle) player Zhu Changyao and cellist Kang Qiaoxuan, was a highlight of the night with its innovative combination of Chinese and Western musical elements.
Peng Jiapeng, chief conductor of the orchestra [Photo/people.com.cn]
Peng Jiapeng, the orchestra's chief conductor, said the orchestra was bold in trying new musical modes.
"Many people think folk music is bustling and even noisy, and we just want to change their old minds," Peng said.
"We will continue to integrate our traditional music with more exotic elements and hope to bring our shows to the wider international arena."
The Suzhou Chinese Orchestra was jointly established by the governments of Suzhou and Suzhou New District in 2017. The troupe has put on 268 shows in 12 countries such as Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan, South Korea and the United States, as well as performing to over 130,000 people in China.
Erhu player Zhu Changyao immerses himself in the music. [Photo/people.com.cn]
