Dazzling start to festival

The 2025 Beijing Strawberry Music Festival kicked off on Sunday evening under a dazzling display of lights. One of the highlights of the festival came from the renowned artist Gong Linna, who delivered a powerful performance blending traditional Chinese music with modern energy. Her performance created a mesmerizing journey for the audience, a beautiful dream that transcended time and space, weaving together the ancient elegance of Chinese culture with the vibrancy of the modern world. This performance stood out as one of the most memorable moments of the festival.

Gong assembled a band that blended traditional Chinese instruments, such as the sheng, suona, yangqin, Chinese drum, and guzheng, with modern instruments like drum kits, electronic drums, and electric bass. The fusion of the old and new created a rich sonic tapestry that captivated the audience.

Her songs featured poetry, folk music, new art songs, and even pop tracks that were distinctly her own. The opening song, Mountain Ghost, from Chuci, or a collection of poetry, also known as Songs of Chu, and Jiu Ge, or The Nine Songs, by Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet from the State of Chu during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), was mystifying and emotionally charged, striking a deep chord with the audience.

Heavenly Rain, saw Gong Linna's singing merging with the natural mountain scenery, instantly transporting the audience into a mystical atmosphere. Then came the northern folk song Zou Xikou, which Gong performed with a raw simplicity.

The emotional crescendo reached its peak with Free Bird and Tan Te, songs that lifted the mood of the entire crowd.

Reflecting on the significance of the performance and her future plans, Gong shared, "The festival stage is so diverse. I've heard a lot of different styles and works from musicians of all ages here, and I'm looking forward to deeper collaborations with these musicians, both domestic and international."