林肯中心的中国新年音乐会

With the tune of renowned Chinese composition, Spring Festival Overture, the Chinese New Year Concert kicked off at Lincoln Center on the evening of the second day of the Chinese lunar New Year.

Presented by New York Philharmonic and conducted by famous Chinese conductor, Yu Long, the concert features with some top-notched Chinese musicians like world-famous pianist Lang Lang, principal oboist of New York Philharmonic, Wang Liang, famous Chinese flutist Tang Junqiao, as well as a children chorus coming from Inner Mongolia in north China.

Zarin Mehta, President and Executive Director of New York Philharmonic said it has always been a wish for the orchestra to have cooperation with the Chinese musicians on such a good occasion.

"We have a wonderful relationship with the people of China. We played there many times. We've had numerous discussions with prominent musicians in China like Lang Lang and Long Yu about doing things in Shanghai and Beijing, etc. And we wanted to develop a much closer relationship. In addition, we have a great relationship with the Chinese community, and we want to establish it even further."

The concert has been live broadcast through local radio music channel WQXR and its official website. China's Phoenix TV, based in Hong Kong, will also broadcast the concert to the audience around the world in coming days. Mehta said he believes the concert will help American people get a better idea about the Chinese music.

"I think it's exposure. I think people here – don't forget the public that will come to hear the concert – is not going to be just the Chinese public. We're gonna do a gala dinner after the concert. Most of the people who bought tickets to the gala dinner are not Chinese or Chinese Americans. I think it's exposure. It's like saying how do the Chinese know about the American music unless you play there, unless you hear it, they won't know how good it is."

As the finale of the concert, pianist Lang Lang presented the audience with a wonderful performance of Piano Concerto No. 1 composed by Franz Liszt. Having cooperated with New York Philharmonic for over ten years, Lang Lang said this concert means a lot more to him.

"The meaning is so different. I performed at New York Philharmonic's New Year Concert last year, and I also performed in its season opening concert as well. Both of them are quite special. But this Chinese New Year concert really means different to me, for we are all Chinese. It's great that a world-level symphony orchestra like New York Philharmonic could celebrate the Chinese New Year at Lincoln Center, the sacred hall of music. It shows the ever-growing influence of China in the world. It also demonstrates that the recognition of Chinese culture and art in the west, especially in the U.S., has been lifted to a higher degree."

Of course to the audience, both Chinese or non-Chinese, the concert is a celebration for all.

"Really loved it. The whole thing, not any one particular component. It was a beautifully presented concert."

"It was outstanding, very impressive. I was into Liang, and Lang Lang, but the kids were also very cute. So it was a combination of exception on music, and very festive at the same time."

"I though it was an interesting combination of Chinese music that sounded very much western. The selection was very westernized, so they were very comfortable to listen to. The musicians played wonderfully. All of the soloists were simply fabulous."

For CRI News, this is Shen Ting, reporting from New York of the United States.