To convey the profound friendship between the people of China and France, and as the European Music Festival unfolds, the China Cultural Center in Paris joined hands with China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater, along with Chinese artists in France and students at the center and successfully held Poetic Fragrance from China: Traditional Chinese Music Concert, an online concert of traditional Chinese music. Chinese ambassador to France Lu Shaye and former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Artists from both home and abroad stepped onto the same stage and performed online for audiences of both China and France, sending out prayers for a winning battle against COVID-19 and best wishes for the safety of the people. It marked a new chapter of friendship between China and France.

As put by Chinese Ambassador to France Lu Shaye in his speech, Chinese folk musical instruments are the crystallization of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, and a gem in world culture. As 39th French Musical Festival opens, artists from the China National Opera & Drama Dance Theater and teachers and students from the China Cultural Center in Paris are joining hands to present nine classic Chinese and French pieces played with traditional Chinese instruments. He praised the long-held cultural exchanges between China and France. Ever since the onset of COVID-19, China and France have kept watch and helped one another. The two have shared weal and woe, worked closely with one another and jointly pushed forward international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19. As the phrase "Unis nous vaincrons" goes, China and France have penned a new chpater in friendship. He also stressed that even though viruses know no borders, neither does love. This unprecedented pandemic once again proves humans share a common future. Only if countries around the world work together can we build a better and more beautiful world. The pandemic allowed us to feel closer to the people of the world, and a deeper understanding of one another is more important than ever.

Former Franch prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin opened his speech with "xiexie", the Chinese term for "thank you". He expressed gratitude toward artists who have contributed to make this music festival possible and toward friends who have helped nurture the cultural relation between China and France. He stressed that culture lies at the core of the Sino-French relationship. China and France are both ancient civilizations. Culture is an indispensible part in both countries for mutual understanding and respect to deepen communications and exchange at an emotional level. "COVID-19 has harmed the health of human beings, and forced us to distance ourselves from others and close ourselves up. Nevertheless, we all know that this global challenge can only be conquered through cooperation. Culture plays a vital role in the promotion of the cooperative spirit in global development. I want to thank the artists. Thank you for your thoughts and creativity. I also want to thank us, for having a shared passion for beauty. Music is a celebration, and culture is friendship," he added.

Since COVID-19 broke out in Wuhan of China, renonwed cultural figures in France have sent out their timely support to China's fight against the pandemic. More than 300 artists and cultural workers have jointly issued a public letter, 40 theater performing artists lent their voice to the collaborative song Together, and players of the Paris Saint-Germain Football Club wore jerseys with "Be Strong, China" printed on them. When France met rising cases of COVID-19, the Chinese government provided tremendous assistance in shipping out medical supplies. Both countries played their due part in supporting each other.

At the concert, many revered folk songs of China were performed, including the percussion piece Dragon and Tiger; Shanxi folk song Woodwind and percussion Watching Yangge Dance; the chamber music Korean Folk Songs; the chamber music Shining Snow and Rouge Flowers, a national intangible cultural heritage from the Tajik ethnic group; erhu and guqin Ode to the Deity, which was listed as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible cultural heritage of humanity; renowned Peking Opera number Deep Night, and a folk rendition of classic French songs La Vie en Rose and Les Champs-Elysées. Nearly 75 minutes of performance covered some of the most well-known pieces from both China and France, with sounds that integrated the traditional and the modern to give the audience a true taste of the charm of traditional Chinese music. With music as the media, friendship between the two countires was deepened to a whole new level, which further affirmed that we are in this fight together as human beings.

With the support and approval of the 39th French Music Festival committee, Poetic Fragrance from China: Traditional Chinese Music Concert was included as part of and introduced to French audiences as a highlight of the festival. The festival, which was established in 1982, has gradually gained influence as one of the most important music festivals in Europe, attracting participants from nearly 120 countries and more than 300 cities to participate annually. This year, it will be broadcast live globally through media in Chinese, French and English on online platforms including People's Daily, CCTV News, Xinhua, Chinanews, China Daily website, China Culture & Tourism app and Cmedia TV, as well as social media platforms including YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. The world can now appreciate the everlasting beauty of Chinese and French art and touch the youthful pulse in the cultural exchanges between China and France.

She Mingyuan, director of China Cultural Center in Paris, expressed his respect for the long history of great civilizations of China and France. Though the two may differ in culture, the two have always sought similarities among differences and carried through mutual understanding and respect. China and France have always attracted each other culturally, learned from one another, and advocated for bilateral cultural exchange and using communication to solve any conflicts, so as to play a leading role in pushing forward multipolarized development in the world. Culture is borderless. The center will continue to play its unique role in stabilizing the Sino-French relationship through cultural exchange and gathering concensus in an effort to established a shared future of humankind.

Traditional Chinese Music Concert – Playlist

1. Percussion Dragon and Tiger 5'

Composer: Li Minxiong

This piece derives from traditional gong and drum music in East China's Zhejiang province. With a unique ethnic style, it reveals the different characteristics of each drum, building up a rich experience of drum music ensemble.

2. Woodwind and percussion Watching Yangge Dance 6'

Shanxi folk song

Adaptation: Jing Jianshu

One of the popular tunes among Yangge music in North China's Shanxi province, this song demonstrates the flexibility of suona and Chinese harmonica. It depicts a scene where a couple of country girls hurry to see the Yangge dance despite rainy weather.

3. Chamber music Korean Folk Songs 7'

Composer: Wang Yunfei

Integrating multiple Korean folk songs, this piece highlights the specific style of Korean music.

Click the picture to watch the video.

4. Erhu and guqin Ode to the Deity 5' (Performed by China Cultural Center in Paris)

Erhu: Guo Gan

Guqin: Yang Lining

This is one of the major songs played on guqin. Listed as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2003, this song expresses good wishes for good weather and an abundant year.

5. Chinese and French Songs May We Last Forever; La Vie en Rose (Performed by China Cultural Center in Paris)

May We Last Forever was inspired by litterateur Su Shi's Prelude to Water Melody from the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It shows the poet's reflection on secular emotions and the philosophical quest for truth and eternity.

La Vie en Rose, a master work by French singer Edith Piaf, is deemed one of the most famous love songs in France.

6. Chamber music Shining Snow and Rouge Flowers 7'

Arrangement: Wang Danhong

Imbued with rich ethnic charisma from Northwest China's Xinjiang, this is a piece that celebrates the gorgeous natural landscape and the industrious people living on that land.

7. Jinghu and the band Deep Night 6'

Composer: Wu Hua

Deep Night was originally a popular Peking Opera song, depicting the epic love story between legendary hero Xiang Yu and his beloved concubine Yu.

8. Ensemble Marching on the Bright Road 5' (Sino-French Ensemble)

Composer: Liu Tianhua Adaptation: Peng Xiuwen

Incorperating some Western composition techniques, it showcases people's pursuit of a better future.

Bonus scene: Les Champs-Elysées

Les Champs-Elysées is a classic song by Joe Dassin and very well-known in France.

 (Source: chinadaily.com.cn)