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Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News in Russian
Beijing, April 2 /Xin Hua/ — 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 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 ensemble named after N. P. Osipov will also give concerts in two venues from April 4 to 5 – in the Concert Hall of the NCCI and in the Beijing Center for Performing Arts belonging to it.
During the ceremonial concert, famous Russian folk melodies and works by Russian composers, enriched with Russian national music, will be performed, for example, by the Ensemble of Young Soloists of the orchestra, the famous song “Looking at the Blue Lakes” arranged for the ensemble will be heard, the “Khorovodnaya” classic of Russian music by Anatoly Lyadov and many other works, as well as classical Chinese works – “Yuichou Chanwan / Fisherman’s Boat Sings in the Evening/”, “Yuidar Batszao / Rain Drips on Banana Leaves/”, and works arranged for symphony orchestra, among which is “He Min / Harmony””Sounded/”, “Lyan Syao /Beautiful Night/”, “Peddlers” and others.
Particular attention is drawn to the fantasy “Harmony of Sounds,” which combines the Chinese “Song of the Horse Pasture” and the Russian classic “Moscow Nights.” As explained by the performer on the Chinese traditional instrument pipe of the Central Orchestra, Men Xiao, “Harmony of Sounds” is not merely a combination of Chinese and Russian classical music, but mutual listening and mutual fusion. We hope that people will hear different musical voices in it, as well as 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 how the people create the melodies, and composers merely 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 addresses folk themes.
The joint concert of national orchestras will not only give the capital’s audience an unusual sound, Russian and Chinese musicians during rehearsals communicate, try playing each other’s instruments. This interesting interaction is not only in culture, but also in instruments, which is a very valuable creative communication, noted V. Andropov.
“When cultures call to each other, a true dialogue arises: I speak in the Russian musical language, and you answer me in Chinese. This is the most valuable moment. Most of all, I love exactly this interaction with musicians on stage. This is what I am waiting for,” said correspondent Xin Hua and the balalaika soloist of the N. P. Osipov Orchestra, Alexander Nikolaychuk, on the eve of the joint concert.
“We have known the Russian 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 language is an obstacle, but we communicate through music — and our souls understand each other perfectly,” shared the deputy concertmaster of the Central National Instruments Orchestra of China, erhu player Li Chao.
Founded in 1919, the National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Russia named after N. P. Osipov is one of the oldest orchestras in Russia and is considered a national treasure of Russia and a “calling card” of its culture. The Central Orchestra of Folk Instruments of China, established in 1960 on the initiative of Premier 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 holidays, as well as in May 2024 at the opening ceremony of the Year of Cross-Culture between China and Russia and at a special concert dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. -0-
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