The Spring Festival is China's most important traditional festival, symbolizing reunion, happiness, and hope. UNESCO has inscribed "Spring Festival—the social practices of Chinese people celebrating the traditional New Year" on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations and the upcoming Spring Festival, "The Symphony and Songs of Spring—Happy Chinese New Year Concert," hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Luxembourg, organized by the China Cultural Center in Luxembourg and the China National Opera House, and co-organized by six major Chinese community groups in Luxembourg and Taiping Insurance, was successfully held at the Luxembourg National Concert Hall on January 13. More than 1,200 people attended the event, including Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg Hua Ning and his wife Yang Peng, members of the Luxembourg Parliament, diplomats from various countries in Luxembourg, EU officials, overseas Chinese in Luxembourg, and representatives from various sectors.
Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg Hua Ning remarked in his speech that this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations, a milestone of significant importance. He emphasized that both sides should seek common ground while reserving differences and work hand in hand to promote the steady and long-term development of China-EU relations. He also expressed hope that musicians from various countries would use music as a medium to deepen mutual understanding, promote cultural exchanges, and enhance mutual friendship.
"The Symphony and Songs of Spring"concert inaugurated the "Happy Chinese New Year" series of events. For the first time, the China National Opera House and Germany's Trier Philharmonic Orchestra collaborated, bringing together over 80 musicians from China, Luxembourg, the United States, Germany, France, and other countries. They passionately performed classic opera excerpts such as "Living in a Dream" and "Habanera"; Italian folk songs like "O Sole Mio" and "Funiculì, Funiculà"; and Chinese songs including "That's Me," "Variations of Mayila," and "Wild Goose," among more than a dozen familiar Chinese and Western classics. The rendition of "The Butterfly Lovers" by Liu Yunzhi, the director of the China National Opera House and a renowned violinist, was particularly captivating. The joyful "Drinking Song" brought the concert to a climax.
The China Cultural Center in Luxembourg utilized the universal language of music to convey shared emotions that resonate across borders, building a bridge of mutual understanding and cultural exchange. Together, they celebrated the arrival of the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Photography by He Lun and Zhang Min; Videography by Zhou Ti