On the evening of May 17, the inaugural show of the 2024 Beijing Great Wall Concert kicked off at the Wangjing Culture Square of the Badaling Great Wall. The All-Russian Youth Symphony Orchestra, led by world-renowned conductor Yuri Bashmet, collaborated with celebrated musicians, including soprano Yin Xiumei, Russian bass opera singer and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation Ildar Abdrazakov, and famous pianist Denis Matsuev, to deliver an impassioned and emotive musical feast.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic relations and the launch of the China-Russia Years of Culture. The concert featured a selection of classic pieces, seamlessly blending the musical cultures of both nations. It opened with the dynamic Polonaise from the opera Eugene Onegin, showcasing classical Russian style. Violinist Luo Chaowen, who won third place at the XVII International Tchaikovsky Competition, then took the stage with the orchestra, performing Russian and Chinese pieces alternately, using music to symbolize the cultural exchange between the two countries.

The All-Russian Youth Symphony Orchestra, founded in 2012 by conductor Yuri Bashmet, comprises over 100 young musicians aged 10 to 22 from various regions of Russia. “It is so exciting to perform in this magnificent place, and it will be an unforgettable moment in the lives of these young Russian musicians,” said Bashmet. He added that the gathering of Chinese and Russian artists symbolizes the friendship between the two peoples. “Music can connect people from both countries in shared feelings. I have maintained close communication and cooperation with Chinese artists, and this performance further deepens our exchange.”

(Edited based on information from Yanqing District)