Outdoor concert in Beijing unites a neighborhood

An outdoor concert, initiated by conductor Lyu Jia, who is the artistic director for the National Center for the Performing Arts and the chief conductor of the China NCPA Orchestra, was held at the Jianwai Diplomatic Residence Compound on Aug 16.

Musicians from the NCPA, the China National Symphony Orchestra and students from the Central Conservatory of Music performed during the concert as soloists and chamber music ensembles.

Violinist Yan Tao, cellist Xu Yulian and pianist Li Xiang performed Piano Trio No 1 in D Minor, Op 32 by Russian composer Anton Arensk, which opened the concert.

Wang Xiaoran, 12, and Cheng Kezhi, 11, played the third movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and the first movement of the German composer's Piano Sonata No 17 in D Minor, Op 31, No 2, Tempest.

Summer and Autumn from The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires by Astor Piazzolla were performed by a piano trio, which concluded the concert.

"It's always a great experience to enjoy music outdoors and this neighborhood has gathered people from around the world, who spent one evening together with music," says Lyu, who worked and lived abroad for years, conducting 2,000 concerts and operas in Europe and the United States, before he returned to China. He also plans to bring outdoor concerts to the capital.

In 2018, Lyu initiated the Global Arts Development Fund for Chinese, aiming at building up a platform for global Chinese nationals to share music and arts.