On September 18, the Jiangsu Traditional Music Orchestra performed their concert, "Eternal Jiangnan," at the Stuttgart Concert Hall, captivating a diverse audience with the enchanting sounds of traditional Chinese music. The event, held as part of the Jiangsu Week of Chinese Folk Music, attracted music enthusiasts from various cultural backgrounds, fostering a shared appreciation for the beautiful music.
One attendee, visibly touched, remarked, “The music is very beautiful and has the power of making me calm down. I believe I will have a dream of China tonight. I hope one day I can go to China and experience the local culture.”
The concert’s theme, "The Grand Canal of China meets the Rhine," highlights the shared significance of these two great rivers. Eberbach, president of the South Baden-Germany China Friendship Association, shared his reflections: “Both rivers are great, and here we also see a perfect combination of the two different cultures. Personally, I'm a fan of Chinese music, and today's concert gave me another amazing experience."
The cross-cultural exchange continued the following day, when renowned Erhu virtuoso Zhu Changyao delivered a lecture on traditional Chinese musical instruments at Silcher Saal Liederhalle Stuttgart. Dr. Georg Noack from the Linden Museum expressed his excitement after the session: “I’ve been interested in Chinese music for quite some time, so not everything I heard today was new to me. But the regional traditions of Jiangnan Sizhu music still brought new insights. I would really like to visit and hear more from this fantastic orchestra.”
The musical journey extended to Ulm on September 19, where another concert was held at the Ulm Music School. Burkhard Raunecker from BSH Home Appliances was particularly impressed by the variety of instruments and the storytelling through music: “A lot of Chinese songs describe nature, culture, and the history of China, which I like very much.”
Elena Fennrich, a pianist and lecturer at the Ulm Music School, highlighted the harmony she witnessed between the performers: “Everyone plays together very well. Through their eye and instrument contact, a harmony is created. There are different feelings, and I think that was portrayed very well today.” She also noted how she incorporates both European and Chinese music into her piano lessons, helping to blend musical traditions for her students, some of whom come from China.
