At 19:30 (14:30 Moscow time) on the evening of May 3rd, the NCPA and Bolshoi Theatre co-hosted a concert to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia. The Russian and Chinese artists selected the most representative works of their countries to praise the friendship between the two peoples and to express their wishes for longevity of friendly bonds between the two countries.
The concert was kicked off by Russian conductor Valery Borisov, the Bolshoi Theatre Chorus and Bolshoi Orchestra, together with three Russian singers. "March" and the choir "Glory to the King!" from Act III of Tchaikovsky's opera The Maid of Orleans impressed the audience with their magnificent and uplifting character.
The Bolshoi Orchestra then shared the stage with three singers from the Bolshoi Theatre, Denis Makarov, Alexander Yeremeyev and Ivan Maximeyko, to render the aria "Is it soon? Are they driving or not?.. Terrible hour is near" from the opera Mazeppa by Tchaikovsky. The famous interlude “Battle of Poltava” conveyed an infectious nationalism, while the “Polovtsian Dances” from Borodin's opera Prince Igor brought the concert to a climax. After these pieces, Valery Borisov surprised the Chinese audience with an encore of the famous Chinese folk song "Jasmine Flower".
Afterwards, NCPA Artistic Director LÜ Jia took over the concert, conducting the China NCPA Orchestra and Chorus in collaboration with pianist CHEN Sa to tell China's story through classic Chinese melody.
Under their interpretation, "Ode to the Red Flag" was majestic, passionate and inspiring. CHEN Sa and the China NCPA Orchestra presented the piano concerto "Red Silk Dance" tacitly. With its unique melody, the "Silk Road" that has brought prosperity to the countries along it for thousands of years was unveiled to the audience.
The China NCPA Chorus delivered the confidence and ambition of the Chinese nation for victory by "Victory is upon Us", a famous aria from the NCPA's Chinese epic opera commission The Long March. The powerful "Defend the Yellow River" was accompanied by the Chinese painting "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" on the screen, which created an excellent audio-visual experience. Amidst thunderous applause, LÜ Jia led the China NCPA Orchestra back to the stage with an encore of Tchaikovsky’s "Waltz of the Flowers (Valse des fleurs)". The concert drew to a close with this masterpiece.
The concert was streamed on a delayed basis at 20:30 Beijing time on the NCPA Classical Music Channel and multiple other platforms. It was also broadcast on All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.
