Shanghai symphony celebrates China's National Day with multicultural performance

The Shanghai M Symphony Orchestra played a concert to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center on Monday.

The performance, Oriental Soundscapes: National Day Symphony Tribute, was under the baton of Costa Rican conductor Edwin Montealegre.

The concert blended classic and contemporary pieces, featuring iconic Chinese compositions such as My Motherland and Ode to the Red Flag alongside innovative arrangements, seeking to evoke a sense of national pride in Chinese audiences while offering an accessible cultural window for international attendees.

The program also included modern works with Chinese elements, like Oogway Ascends from Kung Fu Panda 1, composed by Hans Zimmer.

"The main idea was that the performance should be meaningful and moving for Chinese audiences, evoking the emotions tied to their history, while also giving foreign audiences a deeper understanding of this challenging past through music," Montealegre said.

The second half of the program took a global turn, showcasing Western classical pieces like Dmitri Shostakovich's Festive Overture and Georges Bizet's Carmen Overture, as well as lively Latin American rhythms in Conga del Fuego Nuevo by Arturo Marquez and Tico Tico no Fuba by Zequinha de Abreu.

A highlight of the evening was the performance of Chu Ode composed by Li Bochan, featuring Ong Thung Xin, a Malaysian erhu (a two-string bowed instrument) soloist.

The performance was well-received, with audience members repeatedly calling for encores.

The Shanghai M Symphony Orchestra has plans to present seasonal performances, including a New Year concert and a Chinese Valentine's Day concert.

Montealegre envisions the orchestra touring both domestically and internationally, sharing Chinese music and supporting music education for young people.

Luo Bin contributed to this story.