East-West Musical Dialogue Spring Concert Celebrates Chinese New Year at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
On 3rd February 2025, the “Spring Sequence of New Sounds” Spring Concert was held. The Royal Academy of Music in London hosted the event. It was co-hosted by the Sino-British Ensemble, the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU), and the UK Beijing Arts Centre.
The “Spring Sequence of New Sound” East-West Musical Dialogue concert featured ten different themed dialogue performances, blending Eastern and Western musical traditions. The event opened with the Spring Festival Overture and reached a climax with a piano duet of The Moldau and The Yellow River Concerto.
While a unique reinterpretation of Pearl River Affection and Sherlock Holmes Theme captivated the audience. Pianists Jinfeng Li and Xinyi Guo engaged in a dynamic “Piano Battle” performance. They seamlessly blended classic melodies from Guangdong and London, creating an intriguing fusion of East and West.
Guided by renowned composer Liping Wang, the Guo brothers, together with young pianist Xinyi Guo, performed Dream of the Red Mansion and The Drunken Concubine, bringing forth the poetic essence of traditional Chinese music.
The UK Chinese Music Ensemble and the London Lute Ensemble presented Dance of the Golden Snake and Silk Road Rhythms, which received widespread acclaim.
The evening concluded with a moving rendition of China in the Lights, performed by soprano Beibei Wang, pianist Jinfeng Li, conductor Siyang Yu, the “Innocence” Children’s Choir, and the UK Chinese Chorus.
The concert was fully booked with local residents and tourists alike. Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang and his wife, Counsellor Hua Mei, also attended the event.
Yi Chen, a Chinese tourist visiting London for the New Year, remarked after the concert, “This is my first time attending a fusion concert abroad, and I was amazed by how classical instruments from different countries vividly brought to life the exotic charm of the Silk Road.”
In his speech, Michael Wood, President of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding(SACU), highlighted that music is one of the most powerful forms of dialogue, serving as a universal language that transcends barriers and fosters harmony. He noted the long and fascinating history of musical exchanges between China and the West, dating back to the 16th-century Italian Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci. These musical interactions, which began centuries ago, continue to shape Chinese music today. He also pointed out that 2025 marks the Year of the Wood Snake, the same zodiac year as 60 years ago when the SACU was founded to promote dialogue between Eastern and Western civilisations. Celebrating the Chinese New Year with a musical exchange allows us to witness the boundless possibilities that emerge from cross-cultural interactions. Afterwards, the event organiser, pianist Xinyi Guo was also invited to the stage for a speech.
If you liked this article why not read: Chinese New Year 2025 Traditions for Year of the Snake
