The Beijing Philharmonic Choir enchanted over 200 attendees at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing on Saturday, in honor of International Children’s Day. Led by conductors Ma Ding and Li Xiaorong, the children’s choir delivered a captivating performance featuring melodies like
Butterfly
and
Song of Puppets
.
Established in 1983 by the esteemed Chinese music educator and conductor Yang Hongnian (1934-2020), the Beijing Philharmonic Choir has a rich history of musical excellence. Notable performances include their a cappella rendition of the Olympics anthem at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and their rendition of the theme song
The Snowflake
at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
The concert marked the commencement of the annual Gateway to Arts Summer Festival, a cherished tradition in Beijing since 1995, catering to children during the summer break. Hosted at the Forbidden City Concert Hall, the festival will feature 65 performances and 11 mini-summer camps, offering a diverse array of programs ranging from classical music to traditional Chinese melodies, and from martial arts to dance. This festival promises a cultural extravaganza that will captivate audiences of all ages.
