This weekend, it is a weekend for music lovers to enjoy the Silk Road Concert staged by Xinjiang Art Theater Chinese Orchestra in Xinjiang People's Theater. With superb performance, simple typhoon and sincere emotion, the audience in Urumqi enjoyed a musical feast that perfectly integrated traditional Chinese music, folk music and western instruments.
On December 17th and 18th, the Silk Road Concert will meet with the audience in the capital at exactly 21 PM. On the evening of December 17th, the first performance, nearly two hours of performance, artists with superb performance, demonstrated the charm of music, the audience intoxicated in the river of music, the performers with warm and lasting applause.
"It was a quality performance." Yang Lei and Yu Ting, who came to the show with their 6-year-old son, said they had not seen such a live performance for a long time. The performance not only satisfied the couple's musical preferences, but also served as an artistic edifying and enlightenment for their son. "I love these shows, I love them!" The six-year-old was excitedly supplementing.
"The performance is an attempt and warm-up for the Chinese orchestra to integrate Xinjiang folk music, Chinese style music and classical symphonies." Xinjiang Art Theater orchestra head Zhang Rui said.
The concert repertoire is rich, including classic repertoire such as "Peony Sweat", "Why Are Flowers So Red" and "Our Good Place in Xinjiang", as well as new opening number "I am waiting for you in Xinjiang", guzheng solo "Fishing Boat Singing Late", and famous songs such as "A Glass of Wine" and "A Lovely Rose".
When the Erhu player and the Sattar player played the well-known prelude of Why Are the Flowers So Red, the Erhu has a broad tone and Sattar is bright and long. The perfect blend of the two instruments made the piece more melodious, magnificent and deep feeling.
Sattar is the main accompaniment instrument for the large-scale classical music cycle Twelve Muqam, which is popular in Kashgar, Hotan, Shache, Kuqa and other places in southern Xinjiang, and Turpan Muqam, which is popular in eastern Xinjiang. Nurbana Yiming, permanent conductor of the Chinese Orchestra of Xinjiang Art Theater, who conducted the concert, said that Why Are the Flowers So Red, performed with the Erhu ensemble, shocked the audience when it premiered at the Shanghai Concert Hall many years ago. Since then, it has become a regular part of the orchestra's repertoire and must be performed every time.
"The first time I heard the song played in this way, my scalp went numb and tears started to roll in my eyes." Citizen Li Min said.
The impressive repertoire emerged in an endless stream -- "Peony Sweat" deep and graceful, "Fishing Boat Singing late" dignified atmosphere, "Tianchi Tour" cheerful rhythm, percussion "Jubilant Junger" is attracting the audience boiling, drumming on the stage, the audience applause, interaction is warm and interesting.
"I used to watch it on TV, but I'm so excited to finally see it live!" Guri Migal, 24, is constantly on the go, recording on her phone and not wanting to miss a show. She came to Urumqi from Yili relatives to play, heard that there was a performance, a few days in advance of the purchase of tickets: "I usually like light music, especially want to listen to the scene."
Ren Jiayi, 7, sat in the second row with her mother, engrossed in the whole thing. "She has been learning to play the violin since she was 3 years old. There are many performances in the capital these two days. She watched one after another." Her mother says the more shows like this, the better. It's a very meaningful thing for the child.
"The Silk Road Concert, created by the Xinjiang Art Theater Chinese Orchestra, is part of enriching the cultural life of Urumqi citizens." Zhang Rui says the orchestra has carefully prepared for the concert, including the new "I'm Waiting for You in Xinjiang," as well as familiar classic repertoire. "Silk Road" concert is a fusion of traditional Chinese music, folk instrumental music and western instruments, which not only shows the elegance of traditional music, but also highlights the charm of folk music.
"We hope that through the composer's reprocessing, adaptation and creation, the modern art performance techniques to show the contemporary Chinese nation in cultural exchange, cultural integration, cultural form of 'I, I have you' musical characteristics." Zhang Rui said.
"This show is a warm-up." He said preparations are under way for a New Year concert to be held in mid-January next year. Famous singers from the Central Opera House, pipa professors from the Central Conservatory of Music and Erhu professors from Zhejiang Conservatory of Music will join in the concert, and the orchestra will adapt some classic pieces. "I hope our cooperation will bring greater surprises to Urumqi residents," he said.