Musical love affair

Ni Yuanchen,9,plays the cello in the first round of the auditions held at Ditan Primary School in Beijing on March 16. [Photo provided to China Daily]

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Manhattan Symphonie will be back in Beijing this April. Its founder tells Chen Nan it's his dream to help talented Chinese young musicians perform with his orchestra for a wider audience.

The New York-based Manhattan Symphonie will perform in Beijing from April 7 to 10 at Poly Theater. Musicians will bring classical music works from John Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Mozart and soundtracks from Hollywood movies, including Titanic. To connect with Chinese audience, the orchestra will also perform three Chinese works - Spring Festival Overture, Dance Music of Yao Ethnic Group and I Love You, China.

Manhattan Symphonie made their debut performances in China four years ago to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-American diplomatic relations.

As the founder and conductor of the orchestra, Gregory Singer recalls: "It was not merely a friendship between the two countries but also a love affair."

"This will be our fourth time coming to China and we have an emotional bond with the country," says Singer, who has written a piece titled A Waltz to China, which is specially dedicated to the country and will also be performed at the concerts. "I have a strong connection with China, especially the profound culture and history. We are happy to return."

The concerts will also include the performance of 20 Chinese children, selected from more than 20 schools and music training organizations in Beijing after a three-week audition. The children, aged from 6 to 16 years old, will give both solo and concerto performances.

One of the young performer, Ni Yuanchen, participated in the first round of the audition held at Ditan Primary School in Beijing on March 16. He started playing the cello since 4 and has just passed the sixth-grade test held by the Central Conservatory of Music.