National orchestra to play Latin music

Colombian dancers Yndira Perea Cuesta and Willian Camilo Perlaza rehearse with the China National Orchestra. [Photo by Zou Hong / China Daily]

China will meet Latin America in a musical extravaganza at the closing ceremony of the 14th Meet in Beijing Arts Festival at the National Center for the Performing Arts.

On May 25, a group of musicians from the China National Orchestra will play 13 compositions from 18 Latin American countries, including Uruguay, Mexico and Cuba. The show will bring the curtains down on a festival where more than 20 troupes and 190 bands from more than 30 countries performed at various locations in the city throughout the month.

The Chinese artists will use traditional Chinese folk instruments, such as the erhu (a traditional two-stringed bowed instrument), pipa (a four-stringed musical instrument), sheng (a free reed instrument played with the mouth) and ruan (a plucked string instrument) to perform the Latin music feat.

"Some of our best folk musicians, such as pipa player Zhao Cong and ruan player Feng Mantian, will perform in the concert. They will prove that anything can be interpreted by the centuries-old Chinese folk instruments. The concert will offer both Chinese and Western audiences a different taste of Chinese folk music," says Xi Qiang, director of the China National Orchestra.

Earlier this year, more than 100 musicians from the orchestra performed a re-arranged version of American singer Katy Perry's hit song Roar, when she made her debut in Beijing.

It is easier for the orchestra to adapt lone songs into Chinese folk music but challenging when it comes to working on multiple foreign tunes like the Latin venture, Xi says.

"Latin American music is full of beats and strong passion. It contrasts with traditional Chinese folk music, which is mainly soft and soothing," he says.

"We have tried different versions for each song to make the result sound as natural and harmonious as possible."

When the orchestra tours the world, Chinese musicians usually perform one or two popular songs for local audiences. It is a good way to let Western audiences enjoy Chinese folk music, Xi says.

During last year's Meet in Beijing Arts Festival, Qingdao Symphony Orchestra performed Latin music for a special section, and was well received by audiences.

This year, percussionists from Trinidad and Tobago, a vocalist from Ecuador and a violinist from Mexico will perform when the Chinese orchestra plays.

"People enjoy the music of Latin America because it is rarely performed in China. The combination of traditional Chinese folk instruments and Latin American music will also bring them a fresh experience," says Mu Wen from China Arts and Entertainment Group, which presents the festival.

Three members of Colombian dance company, Sankofa, including two dancers, Yndira Perea Cuesta, Willian Camilo Perlaza and percussionist Feliciano Blandon Salas, will perform their award-winning dance show Short but Eternal this weekend.

Earlier this month, the same artists had performed at Chaoyang Park .

"This is our first time in China and we are surprised to see the audiences' enthusiastic reaction to our music and dance," says Cuesta, 35, who founded the troupe a decade ago.

She also says that the name of the troupe, Sankofa, comes from an African phrase that means to go back to the roots. "Our dance work, Short but Eternal, just reflects our African roots."

IF YOU GO

7:30 pm, May 25. National Center for the Performing Arts, No 2 West Chang'an Jie (Avenue), Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6655-0000.