Artists from New Zealand perform during China Crossing IV, a concert featuring a mixture of Chinese and Western music in Wellington, New Zealand, Nov. 26, 2020. New Zealand School of Music and the Confucius Institute of Victoria University of Wellington co-hosted a concert featuring a mixture of Chinese and Western music here on Thursday. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua)
WELLINGTON, Nov. 26, 2020 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand School of Music and the Confucius Institute of Victoria University of Wellington co-hosted a concert featuring a mixture of Chinese and Western music here on Thursday.
The concert, called China Crossing IV, debut with music by Chinese New Zealand composer Gao Ping and arrangements by SOUNZ award winning composer Michael Norris. The full program featured performances by Lan Weiwei with pipa, a traditional Chinese musical instrument, pianist Liu Jian, violinist Martin Riseley, Te Kōkī Trio and the New Zealand String Quartet.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some musicians have to present their performances online.
Director of the New Zealand School of Music Sally Jane Norman sang high praise for the concert, saying it's a wonderful opportunity to create connections between Chinese and Western music.
Sally also revealed the possibility of further collaboration with China's central conservatory of music after finalizing a memorandum.
"We face a very bright future," She added.
Adele Bryant, director of Confucius Institute to Victoria University of Wellington, said, "Artists compose and play such fabulous pieces that sum up not only the essence of China Crossing -- a blend of Western and Chinese musical traditions -- but also sum up the year of 2020, using technology to bring us together rather than meeting in person."
Adele mentioned after the concert that Victoria University of Wellington and Chinese counterpart Xiamen University would continue to explore and support China Crossing music events to enhance the cultural communications between the two countries. Enditem
