On the evening of November 19th, the Symphony Concert on World Masterpieces was held in the Theater of Activity Center. Wuhan Chamber Orchestra presented a splendid musical feast for more than 800 faculties and students. President Gao Chi attended the concert.

The conductor is leading the symphony orchestra. (Photo/Gao Wanru)

The concert commenced at 7:00 p.m. with the classic suite We Used to Sing, a nostalgic melody that gracefully wove its way through the hearts of the audience, evoking cherished memories of bygone eras. It was followed by the prelude to Georges Bizet’s “L’Arlésienne Suite No. 1”, a masterpiece of French composition that captivated listeners with its powerful opening section and a lively, light-hearted melody in the middle section.

Celloists perform at concert. (Photo/Qiu Ao)

 French Horn Players  perform at concert. (Photo/Liu Bowen)

“Mom taught me a song, without the Communist Party there would be no new China.” Tang Wei, a soprano, sang “Mama Taught Me a Song”, an emotionally charged, soul-stirring song that expressed the people’s adoration and love for the Party. “Ballet on the Treetops” is a magnificent military song, with a strong sense of youth and rich emotions, depicting the scenes of airmen during training and flight.

Then the music from the animation Doraemon was played with an upbeat rhythm and energetic liveliness. The concert also featured two selections from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite, full of poetic and dramatic power, in which “The Four Little Swans” - one of the most beloved pieces in the choreography- enchanted the audiences with its cheerful rhythms. The tune echoed the frolicking of little swans by the lake, evoking a rustic, touching, and idyllic poetic ambiance.

Soprano Zhou Yan sings the song “My Deep Love Is Waiting for You”. (Photo/Zhou Zirui)

The sixth set of performances comes from the album Chinese Sights and Sounds, featuring orchestral renditions of Chinese folk songs. The concert presented four pieces from this collection: “Pair of Flowers”, “Orchid Flower”, “Purple Bamboo Tune”, and “Little Cowherd”. The audience was deeply moved by the blend of Eastern and Western music in these pieces. Soprano Zhou Yan’s rousing rendition of “My Deep Love Is Waiting for You” conveyed deep emotions and love for the homeland, while her melodious voice reverberated throughout the venue. The song “The Power of Revival” was powerful and passionate, reflecting the people’s unwavering belief in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and their pursuit of the Chinese dream.

Carmen stands as a global musical icon, and in this concert, four notable pieces were chosen from the album: “Aragonaise”, “Intermezzo”, “Les dragons d’Alcala”, and “Les toreadors”. “Aragonaise” is ablaze with passion, featuring a diverse array of percussion to vividly portray the intensity and grandeur of a bullfight. “Intermezzo” carries the tranquility of a pastoral song, summoning up our memories of Carmen’s first love. “Les dragons d’Alcala” exudes a laid-back atmosphere, and its middle-of-the-road Allegro captured the energetic and intense nature of Don José. “Les toreadors”, on the other hand, is a powerful and passionate piece, painting the formidable character and commanding presence of Escamilla. Guided by the orchestra’s exceptional interpretation, the audience felt as if they had opened the door to the opera Carmen, immersing themselves in the adventurous life of Carmen, the gypsy girl.

“My motherland and I cannot be divided for a moment ...” Finally, the orchestra concluded the concert with the song “My Motherland and I”, profoundly emotional, as the finale. “This is our first performance after four years of absence from HZAU due to the pandemic, and we hope to engage in musical exchanges with all of you at least once a year in the future,” said Duan Lunyi, Chief of the orchestra. Music belongs to our nation, but also belongs to the world; it can transcend boundaries - Regardless of the emotions they convey, whether passionate, melodious, gentle, mournful, sad, or melancholic, music always has the power to break down the barriers and speak right to the heart. “Although most of the tracks are unfamiliar to me, the emotional power they held resonated deeply within my heart,” Xiong Yi, a student of the College of Animal Science & Technology, said excitedly.

Source: http://news.hzau.edu.cn/2023/1120/68422.shtml
Translated by: Song Bowen
Proofread by: Wang Jiahao
Supervised by: Jin Bei