(Picturedby Fu Beibei,omnimediareporter of the Three Gorges Daily)
The8th Yangtze River Piano Music Festival“The Charm of the Yangtze River”openedon the evening of Sept.7in the urban area. Famous pianists and music lovers from home and abroad gathered together in Yichang toenjoythe musicartfeast with Yichang peopleandpay tribute to the 70thbirthday of New China.
Zhou Ji, member of the standing Committee of the Provincial CPC Committee and secretary of the Municipal CPC Committee,declared the opening. Zhao Talim, vice chairman of the ChineseMusicians’Association, Zhang Jiasheng, mayor and deputy secretary of theMunicipal CPC Committee, and Wu Yaling, president ofParsonsMusicCorp., delivered speeches.
Zhao Talimpointedthat the Yangtze River Piano Music Festival is agrandcultural festival co-founded by the Chinese Musicians’Association and Yichang in the great process of reform and opening-up in 2011. Over the years, with the joint efforts of colleagues in the music industry and all sectors of society, it has become agrand cultural activity with wide coverage,professionalism and extensive influence, which hasnot onlyeffectively promoted the development of piano culture industry and piano art in China,but alsodemonstrated the city image of Yichang—"Piano City of China". At a time when Yichang is about to usher in a dazzling art event, let us be guided by Xi Jinping's thoughtonsocialism with Chinese characteristicsfor anew erato discussthe future developmentof piano musicin China. Withmusic really benefitingthe peopleand fully demonstrating the great achievements of the development of piano industry in China, it presents a precious cultural gift for the 70thbirthday of New China.
Zhang Jiasheng said in his speech that the Yangtze River Piano Music Festival,one of the iconic cultural symbols in Yichang, has gradually become an important platform and carrier for displaying musical talent, promoting the integration of cultural tourismand realizing cultural benefits to the people. Yichang is also more closely linked to the world becauseof thepiano music. Wehope to take the festival asamediumtomake friends, topresent the fine art, to spread the music culture, toplayinfinite notes on thepiano keys, topromotethe cultural confidence of "Piano City", and to show the brand power of "MadeinYichang". We firmly believe thatwiththecareand support of leaders and guests at all levels, thededicated performanceof artistsand theintense involvementof manypiano enthusiasts, the Yangtze River Piano Music Festival will certainly become a grand event of music art, a festival for thecommonpeople, a platform for cultural exchangesand a bridgefor friendships.
As one of the undertakers of the Yangtze River Piano Music Festival,Wu said that theParsonsMusicCorp.has been making unremitting efforts to make the Chinese pianoshead forthe world.
In June this year, the Yangtze River Piano, a national brand and independently developed by theCorp., became the designated piano for the 16th Tchaikovsky International Music Competition—the "Chinese Piano" used for the first time in 61 years since thestartofthe competition,realizing theambition ofmaking"Pianosmade in China" represented by "Yangtze River Piano"reach the top of the world's highest art stage. It is sincerely hoped that the Yangtze River Piano Music Festival can become a stage for inheriting and popularizing piano art and an important part of people's music life.
At the opening concert, the Yangtze River piano artists Pan Linzi and Lionel Morales Alonso played The Yellow River Piano Concertoand Thesecond Piano Concerto in C minorrespectively. The concert wasconducted by the famous conductor Lin Musen and concerted bythe symphony orchestraof Sichuan Conservatory of Music.
With the theme of "Music makeslife better", the festivalincludessix piano concerts, three Yangtze River piano master lectures, three concerts of famous artists’entering campuses,one National College Piano Teachers' Forum and new productreleases, etc.
Leadersof the Municipal Party Committee, the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress, the Municipal Government,the Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference,headsof thegovernment-affiliated in stitutions,representatives of the Central andProvincial Enterprises,guests from Hong Kong,representatives of national distributors,guests of national music education and piano professionals, and the national music enthusiasts, etc.attendedtheopening concert.(Reporter Lei Pengcheng)