More than 100 Chinese and Russian musicians will give an
open-air concert entitled "Russian Soul" on Saturday evening at
Haidian Park in Beijing.
The show, a major program of the Year of Russia in China, will
feature a variety of medleys.
Under the baton of Organ Durjan, the acclaimed "Toscanini of
Eastern Europe," and Vladimir Ryzhaev, the conductor of Moscow
Youth Symphony Orchestra, the 80-member Moscow Symphony Orchestra
will play not only pieces by Tchaikovsky and Khachaturian, but also
Russian folk music.
Durjan leads with deep and powerful emotion and a passion. The
veteran conductor is expected to captivate audiences with his
interpretation and style.
Novosibirsk-born folk singer Pelageya will sing the folk songs.
Pelageya, now 20, won the hearts of Russian fans with her crystal
voice and lyrical interpretation of popular folk songs when she was
only 10 years old. At the age of 14, she and three friends formed a
folk band, which is still popular in Russia's clubs.
The concert will also feature bass player Valery Gilmanov from
Bolshoi Theatre, Chinese pop singer Zhu Hua and Russia's famous
rock band The Flowers, which is celebrating its 37th year.
Aside of their own hits, The Flowers will accompany Zhu while
she performs her own songs Why Am I so Sad and Kaa
and the song Moscow Greets Beijing, Beijing Greets Moscow,
which is specially created by the band for the Year of Russia in
China.
The general idea for the open air show originated on Moscow
Symphony Orchestra's 1991 Great Britain tour "Electric Light
Orchestra - Part II," which started at Wembley Stadium in
London.
Zhang Yu, managing director of China Arts and Entertainment
Group and the presenter of the show, claims that at this year's
event, Russia will meet China and classical will be combined with
rock'n'roll.
The concert starts at 8:00 PM on Saturday.
(China Daily June 8, 2006)
