Zhang Yang

    nicolezyyy@163.com

    SHENZHEN “Belt and Road” International Music Festival will open March 25, with 16 concerts to be performed by outstanding musicians from nearly 30 countries along the “Belt and Road” region, according to a press conference by the festival’s organizers yesterday.

    Over 700 musicians and artists from 12 art groups from home and abroad will perform during the three-week music festival in four venues, including Shenzhen Concert Hall, Shenzhen Grand Theater, Shenzhen Poly Theater and Shenzhen Children’s Palace.

    “The festival is aimed at enhancing communication and friendship among 64 countries along the ‘Belt and Road’ by the bridge of music,” said Zhang Heyun, head of the city’s culture, sports and tourism administration.

    According to Zhang, all of the performers to join the festival are from the “Belt and Road” countries, and their performances will be closely connected with the history and culture of the Silk Road.

    During the festival’s opening concert, which will be held at Shenzhen Concert Hall on March 25, musicians from 10 countries, such as Albania, Romania, Egypt, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Vietnam and Thailand, will join Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra to perform for the audience.

    World-renowned orchestras and troupes, such as Wiener Symphoniker, Indian Bollywood Singing and Dancing Group, Canadian Brass and Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, will perform themed concerts during the festival.

    Xavier de Maistre, a French musician, will host a harp solo concert at Shenzhen Concert Hall on April 8, while Adam Kosmieja, a well-known pianist from Poland, will have his solo concert at Shenzhen Grand Theater on April 14.

    Chinese music will also play an important role in the music festival, as a concert of traditional Chinese stringed and woodwind instruments will be staged at Shenzhen Grand Theater on April 15 and Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra will hold a concert at Shenzhen Concert Hall on March 28.

    The music festival, co-hosted by the city government and Chinese Musicians’ Association, will conclude April 16, with a closing concert performed by China National Symphony Orchestra at Shenzhen Concert Hall.

    According to Zhang, the lowest ticket prices of the 16 concerts will range from 50 yuan (US$7.4) to 80 yuan, while the highest prices will be less than 1,000 yuan. Except for the Wiener Symphoniker’s concert, all of the concerts will have at least 50 percent of the tickets priced lower than 180 yuan.

    Residents can reserve tickets online on the four venues’ official websites: Shenzhen Grand Theater (www.szdjy.net), Shenzhen Poly Theater (www.polytheatresz.com), Shenzhen Concert Hall (www.szyyt.com) and Shenzhen Children’s Palace (www.szcp.com).