This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end the Long March. To mark this historic event, a symphony divertimenti of The Long March debuted at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end the Long March. To mark this historic event, a symphony divertimenti of The Long March debuted at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
The Long March was a 2 year tactical retreat from Kuomingtang forces by the Chinese Red Army in the 1930s. It was seen as an epic achievement, and is still regarded as such today. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Long March, this symphony concert tries to depict some of the key events during that time.
"This is the first symphony concert dedicated to the Long March. By combining the distinct regional styles of places like Jiangxi, Sichuan and Shaanxi with the unique vibes of ethnic groups like Han, Tibet, Yi and Qiang, we are re-presenting the scene of the Long March with music from multiple aspects," said Lyu Jia, conductor.
The concert is a collaboration between the NCPA orchestra and the Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra. The latter was founded in 1973, and has become a leading orchestra in Western China. Starting last year, the musicians of the group have been working with composers in Beijing for this concert.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end the Long March. To mark this historic event, a symphony divertimenti of The Long March debuted at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
"This is a large scale project involving not just our professional musicians. There are more than 300 performers in the concert including both musicians and actors. There are 93 musicians from Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra. And the chorus is mostly made up of students from primary schools and colleges in Sichuan," said Zhao Yu, Director of Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra.
The 90 minute concert moved the hearts of many, including actor Liu Jin who has played the late Premier Zhou Enlai many times.
"Today we celebrate not just the victory of the Long March and the sacrifice made by the martys, but also the spirit and philosophy behind the historic march-- which is to stay true to your ideal and your faith no matter how difficult it is. And I think that is a universal and timeless message," said Liu Jin, actor.
After their debut performance in Beijing, the Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra will perform in Chengdu next week. After that the troupe is planning a tour that will cover various cities along the route of the Long March.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end the Long March. To mark this historic event, a symphony divertimenti of The Long March debuted at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.
