SCO Flag symphony concert tour comes to a close
On Nov 7, the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra performed at the Qingdao Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) International Expo Center, marked the finale of the "Along the Yellow River to the Sea - SCO Flag Symphony Concert" tour. The performance was well-received with a full house and enthusiastic audience.
In 2023, as the fifth anniversary of the SCO Qingdao Summit approached, in order to strengthen friendly cooperation among SCO member states, the concert "Along the Yellow River to the Sea - SCO Flag Symphony Concert" was jointly organized by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. The event was organized by the China Performing Arts Group Development Co., Ltd. The concert took place from Nov 3 to 7 in four cities along the Yellow River: Lanzhou, Xining, Xi'an, and Qingdao, presenting spectacular performances for local music enthusiasts.
Under the baton of Chinese conductor and music educator Zhang Guoyong, the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra invited Uzbekistani soloists, including a soprano, a baritone, and a pianist, to bring a symphony experience with vocal performances. The concert featured Zhao Jiping's "Violin Concerto No. 1," Rimsky-Korsakov's symphonic suite "Scheherazade," and a brand new composition titled "SCO Flag Flying High" by Uzbekistani composer and Chairman of the Uzbekistan Composers' Union, Rustam Abdullayev, with lyrics by Chinese poet Zhou Qing.
Rustam Abdullayev, chairman of the Uzbekistan Composers' Union, expressed that the kindness and diligence shared by the people of China and Uzbekistan have many similarities in music.
"SCO Flag Flying High" was jointly performed by artists from China and Uzbekistan. Based on the distinctive music of both countries, the symphony concert celebrated themes of friendship, showcasing the synergy between the "Silk Road Spirit" and the "Shanghai Spirit" through the platform of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, creating a vibrant practice for an open, prosperous, and beautiful future.