Venezuelan orchestra brings Latin joy to Beijing

Inspired by the system, Liu has been implementing his own musical education practices in China since 2019 and has invited national-level musicians to teach young children in the hopes of inspiring a love of playing music among more children.

Jiang Taihang, a classical music enthusiast based in Beijing, says that the performance by the Venezuelan orchestra in China was a rare opportunity to hear authentic Latin American symphonic music.

"The inherent expressiveness of this music captivates people's auditory and visual senses from the very beginning," he says.

Jiang, a music critic who often contributes articles to the official magazines of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, adds that it is noteworthy that countries like Venezuela and other Latin American nations are geographically distant from the musical centers of Europe. "This suggests that these countries did not have early exposure to the musical cultures of Germany or Italy, nor did they benefit from the rapid development opportunities provided by economic strength, like that of the United States.

"Despite this, Latin American composers have excelled in classical, sophisticated musical techniques since the 20th century and crucially, have successfully tailored them to their environment. This achievement could offer valuable inspiration for the advancement of symphonic music in China," he adds.

Contact the writer at xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn