Even for seasoned participants of the world reknowned Edinburg Festival the performance of China Conservatory Orchestra in EICC this afternoon was surely a resounding surprise to most audience.  At 76 years old the famous Chinese conductor and composer enlightened the packed audience by telling vivid stories about each of the Chinese folk music with insight and humourous stories. 

 

 "Sorrow under the Moon” was adapted from a popular song in Taiwan  from the 1930s. the unforgettable melody delivers the sorrow of the people of Taiwan under the occupation of Japanse who are looking at the moon and thinking about their homeland - China. 

 

 

Jinghu Concerto: "Deep in the Night” was performed by Prof. Zhang Zunlian Jing accomanied by young Erhu player, Ms Ma Ke.  This piece  tries to integrate light-footed dance, heroic swordplay, complicated feelings and brutal war into one single piece, so as to explore the spiritual complexity of Yuji at all levels and from all possible perspectives. 

 

"The Moon Reflected in Er-Quan” is an extremely well-known erhu piece in China. Its intriguing and implicative melody alternating between calmness and passion expresses the blind busker’s discontent with fate and his hopes for the future. This is a work that successfully intergrates meaningfulness with simplicity, sentimentality with vigor, softness with strength, which overall creates a most profound experience for the audience.

 

Within 2 hours the fully packed audience were treated with 13 pieaces of real “Melodies from the Heart”.   For those who missed the performance in Edinburg China Conservatory Orchestra will give a special performance in Lodon on Saturday the 22nd August in Central Hall of Westminster.