Virtual concert celebrates Year of Ox with fusion of Chinese, western music

World-renowned violinist Ning Feng then gave a show-stopping rendition of Zigeunerweisen written in 1878 by the Spanish composer Pablo de Sarasate. It's one of the best-known violin works based on Hungarian folk melodies and Romani music motifs.

Antonin Dvorak's 2nd movement of symphony No. 9, From the New World, was also rightly chosen by the Chinese orchestra for the occasion as so many people could hardly return home due to the pandemic interruptions.

Dvorak wrote the piece during the time he spent in the United States in the 1890s. His longing for home colored his music with mixed emotions.

The concert also featured violinist Amy Oshiro-Morales from the Philadelphia Orchestra and Japanese pianist Igarashi Kaoruko in a piano trio No. 1 in D Minor of Russian composer Anton Arensky with cellist Wu Zhen from Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.

The music feast ended with Symphony Overture No.1 - The Passionate Years, a well-known piece composed by renowned Chinese composer Guan Xia. The piece pays homage to the pioneers who made great changes and devoted themselves to the development of China.

The concert's programs were selected to send a message of reunion, gratitude and new begining in the spirit of the Chinese New Year tradition, said Zhao Haisheng, minister counselor for cultural affairs in the embassy, in an interview with Xinhua prior to the event.