Open-air concert held in GZ to pay tribute to Beethoven
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An open-air concert was held in the Hu Family Ancestor Hall in Huanggpu Ancient Port on April 25, as part of the continued celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of German pianist and composer Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the greatest musical geniuses of all time. 


Martin Fleischer, Germany consul general in Guangzhou, spoke at the opening of the concert. [Photo provided to SilkRoadPost]

 

"Beethoven is the pride of not only Germany, but the entire world," said Martin Fleischer, Germany consul general in Guangzhou, also an organizer and performer of the concert. Beethoven's works express a vast range of shared emotions and a kind of universal destiny that appeals to all of human society, "which is especially important in a world where cooperation is crucial to deal with the crisis of COVID-19."

 

Nine stunning performances, covering piano solo, lieder, opera, dance and rock & roll, were brought to the stage to pay tribute to the legendary composer.


A scene of the experimental drama "Louis". [Photo provided to SilkRoadPost]

 

Experimental drama "Louis" presented by MEGA Studio, with a piano accompaniment by pianist Yang Shiqin, probed into Beethoven's bibliography, letters and comments and displayed the inner world of the great composer and his resilience in face of a troubled life.


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Dance: Capriccio on the theme of The Magic Flute, presented by dancer Yu Jinying, violoncello Pan Chang and pianist Yang Shiqin. Photo provided to SilkRoadPost.

 

Modern dancer Yu Jinying, with amazingly flexible and muscular dance moves, offered fresh visual experiences with Beethoven's variations on themes from Mozart's The Magic Flute.

 

Franz von Chaussi Trio, a band composed of pianist Franz von Chossy, bassist Tommy Liang and drummer Wilson Chai, reinterpreted episodes of Beethoven's 'Moonlight' Sonata and Symphony No. 7 with jazz imagination and film-like language.

 

Martin Fleischer, the "swinging diplomat" and his jazz rock band Guangzhou Soul Project brought the concert to a climax with Roll Over Beethoven, adopted from a 1956 hit of the same name by Chuck Berry, father of Rock & Roll, reviving some famous episodes from Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 "Fate"and Pathétique Sonata with a touch of jazz and rock and roll.  


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Jazz rock band "Guangzhou Soul Project" presented Roll Over Beethoven at the concert. [Photo provided to SilkRoadPost]

 

Jim Levy, pianist and US consul general in Guangzhou, and Tulu İÇÖZÜ AYKAN, Turkish mezzo-soprano and spouse of the Turkish consul general in Guangzhou, were also invited to light up the night concert with amazing performances.   


Turkish mezzo-soprano Tulu İÇÖZÜ AYKAN performed at the concert. [Photo provided to SilkRoadPost]

 

The concert was held in the three-century-old Hu Family Ancestor Hall, where Lingnan architecture met German cultural heritage. It was co-organized by the German Consulate General in Guangzhou; InterCulture, a company dedicated to Sino-German/European-European cultural exchanges; and light luxury skin care brand OJESH, and sponsored by German trade and investment agency NRW.Global Business.


Author & editor: Sophia