In the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, selections of classic works by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Alexandr Borodin and other musical masters were performed, including Orleans Maid, Mazeppa Prince Igor and so on. At the same time, a piece of famous Chinese folk song entitled Mòlìhuā (Jasmine) was co-played and performed in National Centre for the Performing Arts of China.

The audience sitting in National Centre for the Performing Arts (hereinafter referred to as the "NCPA") in Beijing, applauded for the Russian performance. Afterwards, the orchestra came to stage and performed the magnificent and solemn Ode to the Red Flag.

On May 3rd, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between Russia and China, musicians from China and Russia bridged the distance gap and jointly presented a unique concert for the audience of both countries online and offline .

"This concert is the first special concert jointly organized by the NCPA and the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia this year, and this form of presentation of joint performances 'via air' is also the first experience that I have ever had in my career." said Lv Jia, Music Artistic Director of the NCPA.

Lv Jia is the Chinese conductor of the concert and has previously cooperated successfully with his Russian counterpart. In 2018, the NCPA's original opera entitled The Dawns Here Are Quiet which he directed, was presented at Russia's Mariinsky Theatre and warmly welcome by local audience. "A lot of people were moved to tears." He said.

"Music is such a kind of language that can cause everyone's resonance no matter who you are and where you are. As one form of cultural communication, music plays an important role in enhancing friendship between the people of China and Russia." Lv Jia said.

Screenshot from the Live Webcast of the Performance

The performance of the piano concerto named Red Silk Dance at the concert, from Pianist Chen Sa, combined traditional folk music with the dramatic characteristic of the concerto, presenting an international aesthetic experience that gained rounds and rounds of applause from the audience. Chen Sa has a deep affection for Russia. At the age of 16, she participated in her first international competitions in Russia, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by the Russian composer Sergei Vassilievitch Rachmaninoff that she played in the final impressed her a lot.

The whole concert ended with a performance of Tchaikovsky's work Waltz of the Flowers by the National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra. "All the pieces performed by the Russian side today are familiar to me and evoke memories of my teenage years." 85-year-old Li Doli expresses excitedly while walking out of the NPCA.

Mr. Li Doli was born in Moscow and spent 14 years in the Soviet Union. That night, he not only enjoyed the Moscow live performance through the big screen, but also saw some old friends in Moscow he had known for many years. "Tonight's concert has great significance." He said.

Ji Ronggen, who had worked and lived for numerous years in Russia, said that today's  co-played concert reminded him of his beautiful memories of the past in Russia. The 76-year-old hoped that cultural communication between China and Russia become closer. "Cultural communication helps both sides understand each other better and approach to each other, and thus become better friends." He said.

Fyodor, a 16-year-old Russian teenager who watched the entire concert live in Beijing, was impressed by Tchaikovsky's works. "Russian music reminds me of my homeland, and Chinese music has a completely different style, which I also enjoy very much." He said.

"Although music is a very abstract language, it speaks directly to the heart. When communicating in music, one tends to be more sincere and the gap between hearts is often narrowed." Chen Sa said.

Screenshot from the Live Webcast of the Performance

(Reporter: Zheng Dongrui, Liu Shuchen, Luo Xin)