China Art Festival Welcomes Foreign PerformersThe Sixth China Art Festival, which ends today, not only shows the most outstanding Chinese performances, but also featured the talents of foreigners.Six performances from foreign countries added an exotic flavor to the Chinese art gala, which started on September 28, including the Vienna Johann Strauss Capelle of Austria, the Stuggart Ballet of Germany, American Ballet West Company History, Yishikawa Yotai Drum Band of Japan, Chinese Music Research Association of Japan and the national ballets of the republics of Congo and Guinea. During the festival, Chinese audience were enthralled by the virtuosity of the Vienna orchestra with their performance of "Ode to the Jasmine." Peter Hosek, president of Image Performing Arts Promotion, which is acting as agent for the orchestra, said, "The Austrian musicians earnestly rehearsed the Chinese music for the giant art festival." "We are honored to bring classical Austrian music to the Chinese people," he said. The orchestra's other pieces included "Spring Voices," "The Blue Danube," and "Radetzky March." After showing the unique cultural traditional of African people, Zambo Italo, artistic director of the National Ballet of Guinea, said that music and dance are without boundaries. All the performances by foreigners during the art festival were well received by Chinese audience. In the past four decades, the China Performing Arts Agency under the Ministry of Culture organized more than 2,000 performing tours to 140 countries and regions while bringing in another 2,000 from 130 countries and regions. |
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