Traditional Chinese music ensemble captivates Luxembourg

Conversation and Connection: A Close Encounter with Chinese Classic Music, a cultural exchange event featuring five musicians from the Central Conservatory of Music's Yijing Chamber Ensemble, was held from June 12 to 14 in Luxembourg, captivating local audiences with concerts and a masterclass.

Held on the heels of the International Day of Dialogue among Civilizations and coinciding with Luxembourg's annual Fete de la Musique, the event was co-organized by the China Culture Center in Luxembourg, the China Center for International Cultural Exchange and Tourism Promotion, and the Central Conservatory of Music, with guidance from the Chinese Embassy in Luxembourg.

Taking place at Luxembourg's landmarks, local communities and schools, the exchange drew nearly 1,000 attendees, including Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg Hua Ning, Kopstal's mayor Thierry Schuman, and Marc Meyers, director of the Conservatoire de Luxembourg.

A special concert was held at the Saint-Hubert in Kopstal on the evening of June 12, offering guests a feast of traditional Chinese compositions.

The piece Dragon Boat skillfully utilized the pipa (a four-stringed plucked lute) to mimic the rhythmic thud of drums, the splash of oars, and the synchronized shouts of racers—evoking memories of the dragon boat race along the Moselle River on June 7.

The guzheng (Chinese zither) solo Fisherman's Song at Dusk painted a musical portrait of a peaceful water village. Distant Song, a solo on zhongruan (a lute-like traditional Chinese instrument), mesmerized the audience with the vibrant music style of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The ensemble In that Place Wholly Far Away, which weavestogether Han, Kazakh, and Uygur musical styles, highlighted China's ethnic musical fusion.

The audience responded with thunderous, prolonged applause, prompting three encores.

One French family traveled across the border just for the concert, while Raoul Weicker, vice mayor of Kopstal, marveled at the music's universal familiarity.

"Chinese traditional music is magical! I knew little about it, but I heard traces of flamenco, rock, and Muqam melodies hidden within it," Weicker said.

The following day, the ensemble took to Luxembourg's landmark Constitution Square, joined by Borbala Janitsek, a cellist and professor at the Conservatoire de Luxembourg, for cross-cultural renditions of Carmen and Por una Cabeza.

Additionally, guzheng (zither) teacher Liu Yan joined the Orchestre de Chambre du Luxembourg (OCL) at Place Guillaume II for an evening performance of Ding Feng Bo that captivated the audience and infused the music festival with the vibrant spirit of Chinese music.

Beyond the stage, the Yijing Chamber Ensemble hosted a masterclass and a workshop at the Conservatoire de Luxembourg. Through one-on-one coaching and technique demonstrations, they introduced European enthusiasts to the depth of traditional Chinese music.

Under the guidance of Chinese musicians, Nathalie, a young Russian woman, successfully performed the Chinese pop classic Woman Flower on the guzheng, and highlighted that she was inspired to fuse the zither with the piano.

Jerome Kiemes, a local multi-instrumentalist who has practiced the erhu (two-stringed fiddle) for nearly a year, was excited to receive direct guidance from the conservatory's teachers.

Pointing proudly to a dual China-Luxembourg friendship pin on his lapel, Kiemes remarked, "I hope the fruits of China-Luxembourg cultural exchange continue to benefit our people, and that our friendship remains forever fresh."