Eastern and Western Arts Meet in Beijing Festival
By admin on 2014-12-19

    Asian and European music, dance and drama will  be presented side by side at the first Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Culture and  Arts Festival in Beijing early September.

  China's Ministry of Culture Thursday said the opening performance, an  Asian-European classical symphony concert, would be staged at the egg-shaped  National Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 2.

  Famous Chinese conductor Li Xincao will lead Asian and European  musicians at the concert in paying homage to classical music from East and West,  said ministry official Dong Junxin, one of the festival's organizers.  

  The festival will end with an Asian-European Ethnic Music and Dance  Gala at the new open-air square at Chaoyang Park.

  The gala will involve folk musicians and dance troupes from more than  10 countries and regions across the Eurasian continent, Dong said.  

  The festival, from Sept. 2 to 8, falls into three categories -- Asian  Arts, European Arts and Chinese Arts.

  Four performances from Asian countries such as Mongolia and the  Philippines will present different aspects of Asian civilization  

  Five concerts will paint the evolution of European music from  classical to modern times.

  A joint modern dance production "Prism" by Chinese, Swedish and  Danish artists, will symbolize shared cultural innovation between Asia and  Europe, Dong said.

  Performances from the host country will include award-winning drama  "Autumn Begins", dramatic dance "A Handful of Wild Jujubes",and a concert  featuring Chinese vocalists from abroad.

  The festival was proposed by China and agreed upon at the seventh  Asia-Europe Meeting in Beijing last October.

  The festival will further include an exhibition of art from foreign  embassies in China, a big book fair and philately and numismatic exhibitions.  

  A forum will be held on Sept. 3 on the theme of cross-cultural  communication between Asian and European countries to facilitate mutual  understanding and respect in the context of globalization.