From April 14th to April 21st, a nine student art troupe from the orchestra and choirs of Kunqu Academy School and Liyuan Peking Opera Society went to The Confucius Institute at the University of Florence in Italy, Italy Prato CICOGNINI National School and the University of Stuttgart in Germany for a week-long exchange performance.

The first show was held at the Confucius institute at the University of Florence on the morning of April 16th. All seats were occupied. The performance was in a warm atmosphere. Wang Fuguo, the Chinese Consul General in Florence, Fang Shou’en the Deputy Party Secretary of our school and also the Chinese Chairman of the Confucius Institute, Masi,Tuscany the Cultural District Director, Toccafondi, Director of Prato Tourism Economy successively delivered a speech on the celebration. "China Opera and Folk Music Concert" opened simultaneously.

The concert did not only include the traditional folk music and folk songs, but also Kunqu Opera and Beijing Opera which presented typical Chinese characteristics. The concert opened with our school’s folk music ensembles, Jubilance and BBK, in a warm and cheerful atmosphere. Then a Kunqu Opera repertoire staged "the Peony Pavilion, Pavilion" which served as a melodious interpretation of Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei’s magical love story. A duet with RaJor, cooperated by the tender Pipa and the endearing Erhu, performed in the combination of musical instruments and singing, which interpreted new folk music works full of antiquity.

The classic Erhu Rhapsody War Horses Galloping cooperated this time with Yangqin, which is known as the piano accompaniment, depicted a vivid picture of the China frontier steppe cavalry. A silk string quintet Spring of Tian Mountain portrayed a beautiful view of blossoms and early snow melting in the Uighur areas in China. Members of our school Opera Society introduced a classic opera show Judge Bao and the Qin Xiang-lian Case, which is a true representation of Beijing Opera, for it, portrayed Baogong most vividly. The Pipa and Guzheng ensemble of Chinese classical music Moonlight River in Spring, which created vast stretches of a Jiang’nan Spring Night scene.

Students of our choir joined with Italian students brought the concert to a climax as they interpreted the folk song called Jasmine, which is praised as the second national anthem of China. The show ended in the melodious tune of the folk music ensemble Rosy Clouds Chasing the Moon and Blooming Flowers and Full Moon, expressed the best wishes for cooperation and teamwork. After the show, many viewers came to the stage to excitedly take photos of actors, to ask questions. They were very reluctant to leave.

It is worth mentioning that the students not only had cultural and artistic communication on the stage, but also in real life. They enjoyed the local folk customs. In Germany, students had the honor to live with a local family and experienced a different living style. From art performance to daily life, they felt the rigorous living attitude and working position of Germans. Students have a deep understanding of the German culture and art in a way that is close to life.

Translated by May Language Studio based upon

http://news.tongji.edu.cn/classid-10-newsid-46895-t-show.html