Published on: 2026-04-02
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News in Russian
Beijing, April 2 /Xinhua/ — The National Academic Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments named after N.P. Osipov and the Central Orchestra of Chinese Folk Instruments will perform together on Thursday at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing.
The joint concert of the Russian and Chinese folk instrument orchestras as the opening concert was part of the event of the third festival “Spring of National Music.” In addition to performing together with the Chinese orchestra, the N.P. Osipov ensemble will also give concerts in two venues from April 4 to 5 – in the Concert Hall of the NCAI and in the Beijing Performing Arts Center that belongs to it.
As part of the solemn concert, famous Russian folk melodies and works by Russian composers will be performed, imbued with Russian national music, for example, the famous song “I look at the blue lakes” arranged for an ensemble will be performed by the Ensemble of young orchestra soloists, the “Khorovodnaya” classic of Russian music by Anatoly Lyadov and many other works, as well as classical Chinese pieces — “Yuyichou Chanwan / Fishing boat singing in the evening/”, “Yuyda Baczyao / Rain on banana leaves/”, and works arranged for a chamber orchestra, including “He Min / Harmony””Zvuchaniy/”, “Lyan Syao /Beautiful Night/”, “Korobeyniki” and others.
Special attention is drawn to the fantasy “Harmony of Sounds,” which combines the Chinese “Song of Grazing Horses” and the Russian classic “Moscow Nights.” As explained by the performer on the pipe of the Central Orchestra of Chinese Folk Instruments, Men Xiao, “Harmony of Sounds” is not just a combination of Chinese and Russian classical music, but a mutual listening and mutual fusion. We hope that people will hear different musical voices in it, and also feel our deep emotional connection and friendship.
“We get to know the culture of the Chinese people through folk melodies,” shared Vladimir Andropov, conductor of the Russian orchestra, People’s Artist of Russia, laureate of the RF Government Prize. Referring to the statements of the outstanding Russian composer Glinka about the fact that the people create melodies, and composers only process and arrange them, he noted that folk music plays a huge role in the cultural dialogue of countries, and the N. P. Osipov Orchestra, which he leads, actively appeals to folk themes.
The joint concert of the national orchestras will not only give the capital’s audience an unusual sound, Russian and Chinese musicians communicate during rehearsals, trying to play each other’s instruments. This is an interesting mutual penetration not only in culture but also in instruments, which is a very valuable creative interaction, noted V. Andropov.
“When cultures echo each other, a real dialogue arises: I speak in the Russian musical language, and you respond to me in Chinese. This is the most valuable moment. Most of all, I love exactly this interaction with musicians on stage. This is exactly what I am looking forward to,” said correspondent Sin Yuwa and balalaika player, soloist of the N. P. Osipov Orchestra, Alexander Nikolaychuk, on the eve of the joint concert.
“We have known the musicians of the N. P. Osipov Orchestra for many years, and we are also well acquainted with Russian music, since many musicians from our country previously studied in Russia and returned to their homeland. Sometimes the language gets in the way, but we communicate through music – and our souls have complete mutual understanding,” shared the deputy concertmaster of the Central Orchestra of Chinese Folk Instruments, pipa player Li Chao.
Founded in 1919, the National Academic Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments named after N. P. Osipov is one of the oldest orchestras in Russia and is considered a national treasure of Russia and its “calling card” of culture. The Central Orchestra of Chinese Folk Instruments, established in 1960 on the initiative of the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Zhou Enlai, is recognized as the largest orchestra of national instruments in China.
Let us remind you that in January-February 2025, the Russian orchestra also performed five concerts in Beijing during the Spring Festival / Chinese New Year holiday, as well as in May 2024 at the opening ceremony of the Year of Culture exchange between China and Russia and a special concert dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Please note; This information is raw content directly obtained from the information source. It represents an exact report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.