The 9th Beijing Music Festival opened Monday evening, with the
Grand Opening Concert staged by the famous Russian Mariinsky
Orchestra to celebrate the Year of Russia in China.
Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong attended the opening concert
conducted by the well-known Valery Gergiev.
The concert began with Dmitri Shostakovich's masterpiece
"Festive Overture". The year of 2006 marks the 100th anniversary of
the birth of the Russian musician.
More than 150 activities have been held to mark the Year of
Russia in China. The activities have greatly promoted the exchanges
and the cooperation between the two countries, said Zeng, also a
member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the
Communist Party of China Central Committee, when meeting with the
orchestra members.
"Russian artists' performances in China have offered great
opportunities for Chinese to get a closer look at Russian classical
arts," said Zeng, adding that China endeavors to strengthen
Sino-Russian friendship and cooperation.
Works from other Russian musicians such as Mikhail Glinka's
opera "Ruslan and Ludmilla--Overture" and Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and
Juliet Fantasy Overture", were also staged at the concert.
According to the organizer, artists from more than 10 countries
such as the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Italy
and Austria will stage 26 performances with Chinese artists during
the month-long music festival.
(Xinhua News Agency October 3, 2006)
