Chinese music works take center stage in Suzhou

The Ocean of Stars, a symphony concert by Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, was staged at the Jinji Lake Concert Hall, where the orchestra is headquartered, in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on July 15.

As part of the ongoing Hua Xia Music Festival hosted by Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, the concert was conducted by Chen Xieyang, featuring pianist Wu Chun. Chinese music works, including The Ocean of Stars and Mulan Psalm, piano concerto No 1, The Founder, and Symphony No 2 Hope, all by Chinese composer Guan Xia, were performed.

On July 15, the orchestra teamed up with Suzhou Silk Museum, presenting a fashion show, which saw musicians of the orchestra wearing and showcasing traditional Chinese silk clothes at the Jinji Lake Concert Hall.

Initiated by conductor Chen, artistic director of the orchestra, the two-week Hua Xia Music Festival, which is now in its third year and began on July 7, aims at promoting Chinese music works.

As well as Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, audiences will also enjoy performances featuring the traditional Chinese musicians of Suzhou Chinese Orchestra on July 21.

Suzhou Symphony Orchestra also announced its 2023-2024 season on July 15, which will kick off in September and close in July 2024. It is the orchestra's eighth season since its founding in 2016, which gathered musicians with an average age of 30 years old from around the world.

The upcoming season will bring music works by composers, such as Johannes Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Hector Berlioz. Conductors, including Zhang Xian, Vassily Serafimovich Sinaisky, and Roberto Díaz, will lead the orchestra.

A special concert commemorating the Chinese composer Zhu Jian'er (1922-2017) will also be staged.

As this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Algeria, the orchestra will make its debut in Africa by performing during the 13th International Festival of Classical Music, which will be held in the Algerian capital, Algiers.