A concert of original works, performed by the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra from Suzhou New District in Jiangsu province, received the highest award for arts from the Jiangsu Provincial Government on Aug 28, according to local media reports.
Based on fictional accounts set in Suzhou, Jiangsu and elsewhere in China, the music played in the Chinese Music, Suzhou Style concert integrated traditional Chinese music with modern orchestral music while paying its respects to traditional Chinese literary classics.
The concert included Ganjiang Moye Fantasia, the story based on Suzhou folklore of swordsmith Ganjiang and his wife Moye; the Symphony of Sizhu – played by traditional stringed and woodwind instruments, and Misty Fengqiao, among other works.
During this year's Spring Festival, the Chinese Music, Suzhou Style concert was performed by the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra in 13 cities in nine European countries, which helped the orchestra secure its reward from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
On Sept 12-21 the Suzhou orchestra will give the Chinese Music, Suzhou Style concert in four Japanese cities: Hiroshima, Nagoya, Kanazawa and Tokyo.
Co-founded by the Suzhou municipal government and Suzhou New District in December 2017, the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra aims to promote traditional Chinese culture by integrating Chinese folk music into orchestral performances, as well as reinterpreting and expressing traditional Chinese music through the symphonic format.
The orchestra has staged performances in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and in more than 10 other countries around the world -- including the United States, Russia and Germany – receiving rave reviews from critics.
The Suzhou Chinese Orchestra performs music selected from its award-winning concert Chinese Music, Suzhou Style at the awards ceremony in Nanjing on Aug 28. [Photo/snd.gov.cn]
