This year marks the tenth anniversary of the collaborative "Belt and Road" initiative, and the city of Shenzhen is poised to resonate once again with the melodies of the Silk Road. After a hiatus of four years, the 2023 Shenzhen Belt & Road International Music Festival is making its much-anticipated return. Over a thousand artists and artistic groups from more than thirty countries and regions along the "Belt and Road" will converge in Shenzhen. From September 8th to October 31st, they will stage 59 performances, inviting the citizens to partake in a 54-day musical extravaganza. 

On September 4th, a press conference regarding the 2023 Shenzhen Belt & Road International Music Festival was hosted by the Information Office of Shenzhen Municipal Government. Ye Xiaogang, the Director of the Festival's Organizing Committee, Chairman of the China Musicians Association, and Dean of the School of Music of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, provided an overview of this year's festival. Hu Bin, a Level-1 Researcher of the Publicity Department of Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee, Ciprian Teodorascu, an artist representative of the festival, and Zhang Liping, the Deputy Dean of the School of Music of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and a member of the Festival's Art Committee, were present at the conference and responded to journalists' queries. The press event was moderated by Han Wangxi, a Level-2 Inspector of the Publicity Department of Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee. 

Highlights of the Festival: Seven Key Features Illuminate the Global Musical Landscape 

On September 4th, a press conference regarding the 2023 Shenzhen Belt & Road International Music Festival was hosted by the Information Office of Shenzhen Municipal Government. Ye Xiaogang, the Director of the Festival's Organizing Committee, Chairman of the China Musicians Association, and Dean of the School of Music of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, provided an overview of this year's festival. Hu Bin, a Level-1 Researcher of the Publicity Department of Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee, Ciprian Teodorascu, an artist representative of the festival, and Zhang Liping, the Deputy Dean of the School of Music of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and a member of the Festival's Art Committee, were present at the conference and responded to journalists' queries. The press event was moderated by Han Wangxi, a Level-2 Inspector of the Publicity Department of Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee. 

As Ye Xiaogang elucidated, this iteration of the festival is jointly hosted by the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government and the China Musicians Association, with the execution by the School of Music of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, centering on the theme of "Connecting China to the World". Compared to previous editions, this year's festival showcases seven distinctive features: 

The first is its high level of internationalization. The festival has invited 32 exceptional artistic groups hailing from over 30 countries and regions to give performances, including Russia, Austria, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Iran, the UK, France, and more. 

The second is the diverse artistic categories. With a total of 59 performances, the festival encompasses a rich array of musical genres ranging from symphonies, instrumental solos, vocal solos, choruses, national operas and world music. It also boasts a variety of other art forms, including classical ballet, contemporary ballet, modern dance, and musical theater. 

The third is the ensemble of stellar artists. This festival boasts a luminous constellation of renowned artists, featuring world-class soprano Angela Gheorghiu, piano virtuoso Stephen Hough, and violin maestro Vadim Repin, among a host of other internationally acclaimed music maestros. 

The fourth is a myriad of premieres and debuts. Out of the 35 performances slated for this year's festival, 10 shows and artists will be making their inaugural appearance in China or specifically in Shenzhen; Notably, the grand symphonic suite "Age of Glory · A Grand Symphonic Suite" and the musical "Sanxingdui" are set for their world premiere in Shenzhen. 

The fifth is its focus on cultural heritage. This edition of the festival emphasizes telling captivating Chinese tales and resonating with the unique voice of Shenzhen. A myriad of outstanding performances enriched with traditional Chinese culture, Greater Bay Area cultural elements, and Chinese diaspora influences are lined up, including the Central Ballet's rendition of "Dream of the Red Mansions", newly revised Cantonese operas "Madame of Qiao Kingdom" and "The Romantic Tale of Liu Yi", and Shenzhen's original dance drama "Wing Chun". 

The sixth is the elevated artistic exchange. Numerous projects in this year's festival are set to foster collaborations between international troupes and local artistic talents, epitomizing the "best of both worlds". The Swiss Béjart Ballet Lausanne will feature 20 young Shenzhen-based dancers; British-Indian choreographer Aakash Odedra will collaborate with local artist Hu Shenyuan for the contemporary dance "Pathless Journey"; and the esteemed Vienna Boys' Choir from Austria will share the stage with Shenzhen's own children's choir. Moreover, numerous celebrities and artists will conduct masterclasses, lectures, and other community engagement events in Shenzhen. 

The seventh is the expanded reach and diverse venues. This year's festival broadens its outreach to regions such as Pingshan, Bao'an, and Guangming. Performances will be held in unconventional venues, including Sea World Plaza and Shenzhen Bay "Spring Cocoon" Stadium, allowing citizens to intimately engage with musical legends and bask in the enchantment of music. Furthermore, a substantial portion of tickets for every festival performance are priced affordably, ensuring that none exceeds RMB100. 

Four Grand Segments: Harmonizing the Silk Road, Celebrating the Luminance of Civilizations 

This year's music festival has four sub-themes, including "Melodious Belt & Road · Glorious Movements", "Exchanges Road · Mutual Learning & Common Development", "Inspirational Masters · Brilliant Civilizations", and "Significant GBA · Brighter Future", with a total of 35 concerts (59 performances). 

In "Melodious Belt & Road · Glorious Movements", the segment encompasses both the opening and closing performances, several world premieres of original pieces, and grand outdoor shows held in stadiums. Notably, the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra from Russia will debut in Shenzhen, offering a "Marathon Concert: Timeless Echoes – Complete Symphonies by Tchaikovsky". Taking the helm as the chief conductor for this performance is the legendary 91-year-old Russian maestro, Vladimir Fedoseyev. 

"Exchanges Road · Mutual Learning & Common Development" zeroes in on the artistic essence of the "Belt and Road" nations, ardently presenting the art forms that capture the unique soul and spirit of these nations. The Vienna Boys' Choir is set to celebrate its 525th-anniversary tour. Fatoumata Diawara from Africa, a multiple Grammy nominee, will mark her maiden performance in China with the exclusive "Malian Memoirs" concert. Babylon Gudelev's Ancient Music Band, among the most influential ethnic ensembles of our time, aims to "resurrect" ancient music that encapsulates nearly a millennium of Middle Eastern and Eastern European Arab-Islamic civilization heritage.

"Inspirational Masters · Brilliant Civilizations" showcases renowned artists, orchestras, and timeless masterpieces. World-class soprano, Angela Gheorghiu, will make her debut solo concert in Shenzhen. The Swiss Béjart Ballet Lausanne will also make its inaugural appearance in Shenzhen, featuring the mesmerizing "Bolero's Night". Stephen Hough, the first classical musician to be honored with the "MacArthur Genius Grant", will grace the audience with a solo recital. 

"Significant GBA · Brighter Future" accentuates a diverse array of artistic endeavors, spanning classical to contemporary, Eastern to Western, and traditional to avant-garde. The Central Ballet Troupe's rendition of the dance drama "Dream of the Red Mansions" will premiere in Shenzhen in a symphonic version. Liu Xiaoyu, the crowned Chinese pianist from the 18th Chopin International Piano Competition, will also make his debut in the city. Shenzhen's original dance drama, "Wing Chun", will make a triumphant return to its roots. 

For this edition of the festival, the School of Music of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, has assembled the most illustrious committee to date. The ensemble includes deans from major music colleges across the country, music directors of prominent orchestras, heads of various ensembles, and experts in arts management and operations. With a diverse committee composition, members hail not only from abroad but also from Hong Kong, China. These esteemed individuals actively recommend and select high-quality projects for the festival, offering professional insights from artistic, international, cultural, and even market perspectives. 

Ciprian Teodorascu expressed that the festival's gathering of over a thousand artists and artistic groups from more than thirty "Belt and Road Initiative" countries and regions in Shenzhen epitomizes the exceptional significance of this initiative in promoting cultural exchange and development. Their brilliant performances spotlight innovation and growth in the arts, underscoring the profound impact of the "Belt and Road Initiative" on fostering cultural integration and progression. 

Through the Lens of Music: Deciphering China for the World

In an era where culture defines a city's competitive edge, only the innovators advance, only the avant-garde thrive, and only the pioneers triumph. Hosting the Belt & Road International Music Festival epitomizes Shenzhen's significant innovative strides in urban cultural development. 

Throughout its three editions, the festival has not only witnessed the impassioned participation of ensembles and artists from "Belt and Road Initiative" countries, bringing their rich ethnic musical heritages to the forefront, but also the fervent support from renowned art groups and musicians from Europe and America. United under the "Belt & Road" theme in Shenzhen, they orchestrate a harmonious "symphony" of human civilization, celebrating "harmony in diversity and symbiotic coexistence". 

Zhang Liping articulated that Shenzhen's sustained commitment to the Belt & Road International Music Festival has cultivated a dynamic confluence of world-class musical artistry in the city. It has sculpted an enduring urban narrative characterized by cultural spirit and creativity, positioning Shenzhen as a global platform showcasing not just China's exquisite musical culture, but the world's. 

Hu Bin emphasized that this culturally opulent event, initiated by Shenzhen, serves as a "resonant" response to the nation's "Belt and Road Initiative" and is an instrumental move towards cultivating a culturally affluent city. It is Shenzhen's contemporary answer to the call of the times, reflecting its stature as the mecca of music and bolstering its cultural confidence. This has further solidified Shenzhen's standing in global cultural exchanges. Moving forward, the Shenzhen Belt & Road International Music Festival will perpetually adopt an inclusive approach, flinging its doors wide open to invite even more "Belt and Road Initiative" nations and regions to partake, collectively resonating the messages of love and peace through music, and co-creating a brighter future!