Music
16:53, 15-Aug-2018
Chinese folk orchestra performs at int'l music festival in Egypt
Updated
16:40, 18-Aug-2018
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Cairo's renowned Saladin Citadel was packed on Monday for a folk music concert held by the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra of the Chinese Conservatory of Music.
The 60-minute concert was part of the 27th edition of Cairo Opera House's annual Citadel Music Festival, which gathers local and international performances covering all genres.
The two-week festival, running until August 17, includes 37 concerts from six Arab and foreign countries, including China, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, Mexico and Panama.
The music show attracted large numbers of Egyptians as the orchestra played festive and famed Chinese folk melodies.
Ola Hussein, a physician, said it was her first time watching a live Chinese musical show.
"I really love the music, and I feel it is very close to the Egyptian music," said Hussein, who came to the concert with her friends.
The young lady said she will start following Chinese music as it "charmed her."
Chinese musicians play traditional Chinese instruments on stage. /Xinhua Photo
Chinese musicians play traditional Chinese instruments on stage. /Xinhua Photo
Cultural exchanges benefited from China and Egypt upgrading their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014, with artists, cultural and musical delegations paying mutual visits.
Through such moves, both countries want to boost friendly ties and enhance mutual understandings and future development.
"We have participated in a series of cultural exchange performances in Egypt, including a Chinese music class and an indoor concert held at the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo," said Shen Cheng, professor at the China Conservatory of Music, who is also in charge of the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra.
Shen said Egypt is a country along the routes involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and has a splendid ancient civilization, adding "it is an honor" to be part of the cultural exchanges to promote the traditional friendship between China and Egypt.
"We hope more Egyptians will get to know and love China and Chinese culture through this cultural exchange."
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency