When Italian singer Angelo Del Vecchio and Chinese singer Yuan Dai went on the stage to perform the song "Belle," the audience was transported to the French musical "Notre Dame de Paris," a global hit.
China Media Group's Spring Festival gala on Saturday recreated the famous cathedral using spectacular light effects and set design, offering an audiovisual feast to viewers on Chinese New Year's Eve.
Artists perform "Belle" from the French musical "Notre Dame de Paris" during China Media Group's Spring Festival gala. /CGTN
The two singers were later joined by French singer Solal, Italian singer Gian Marco Schiaretti and Chinese singers Liao Changyong and Zhang Yingxi.
The song celebrates both the most important traditional festival in China and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France in 2024, which is also the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.
Set against the backdrop of Paris in 1482, the musical depicts the tragic love story between a young and beautiful gypsy girl named Esmeralda and Quasimodo, the hunchback bell-ringer of Notre Dame.
The TV gala, consisting of music, dance, comedy, martial arts and acrobatics performances, was first broadcast in 1983 and is seen as a major cultural symbol for traditional Spring Festival celebrations in China.
Recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's most-watched annual TV program, the hours-long television extravaganza attracts millions of viewers every year.
The 2024 Chinese New Year began on Feb 10 this year, ushering in the Year of the Dragon.
(Cover: Artists performance "Belle" from the French musical "Notre Dame de Paris" at China Media Group's Spring Festival gala. /CGTN)