Suzhou Chinese Orchestra stages a concert for students and teachers from Suzhou New District schools on March 19. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Suzhou Chinese Orchestra held a concert for more than 1,000 students and teachers from Suzhou New District schools on March 19, local media reported.
The Suzhou orchestra depicted the vibrant Jiangan or South China in March, the serene Suzhou alleys, the elegant Suzhou gardens, and melodious storytelling and ballad singing in Suzhou dialect by classic Chinese music.
During the performance, the instrumentalist from the orchestra introduced various traditional music instruments to their audience, including their names, features and history to give them a taste of the history of the traditional culture of Suzhou, which dates back some 2,500 years.
These young music fans also played music with the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra artists.
A student surnamed Shi from the No 1 Middle School of Suzhou New District said after the concert that he felt amazed that the spring scene described in textbooks can be so vividly expressed by traditional Chinese music instruments and he liked it very much.
His schoolmate, surnamed Gu, said that General's Command was his favorite.
The orchestra, through their performance, depicted an ancient general's solemnity and bravery in fighting as well as the intense battle of war.
According to the Suzhou orchestra, it plans to stage 60 or so concerts for local students, residents, local soldiers, and employees of local companies in 2019.
In addition, it will also offer training classes to members of folk music clubs in local primary and middle schools to cultivate talents for Suzhou folk music.
The Suzhou Chinese Orchestra, co-founded by the Suzhou municipal government and Suzhou New District in December 2017, is aimed at promoting traditional Chinese culture by integrating Chinese folk music into orchestra performances, and reinterpreting and expressing traditional Chinese music through the symphonic format.
