In a spectacular conclusion to 2024, the "Hong Kong with National Style and Charm" series wrapped up on Dec 25 and 26. The Central National Music Orchestra enchanted over two thousand attendees at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre with their performance of "Ode to Huang Zhong Da Lu."  Guided by the ancient "Twelve Lu" musical system, the audience embarked on a musical journey through a thousand years of prosperity.

The concert began with the ceremonial Huang Zhong instrumental ensemble "Ode,"  blending ancient Huaxia melodies with contemporary Chinese grandeur. Young guqin player Lu Ning gently played the guqin, showcasing the unique charm of the ancient instrument with the deeply historical piece "Understanding Friends." The pipa trio "Golden War Horses" was adapted from classic Chinese music pieces "Ambush from All Sides" and "The Conqueror Unarms," intertwining percussion and pipa sounds to immerse the audience in a fierce battle scene.  Dàruǎn and recitation of "Drunk on Wine" transported the audience to ancient times through the performance of Zhu Chengzi. Noteworthy were the orchestra's innovative chamber music ensembles, "Li Ren Xing" and "Qing Shan Du," which harmoniously combined tradition with modernity in pieces like "Plum Blossoms" and "Moonlit Night on the Spring River" Creating a mesmerizing experience.

In the second half of the performance, Tang Feng, the Deputy Head of the Central National Music Orchestra and a renowned erhu player, presented a fresh interpretation of the classic piece "Good Night." This was followed by "Horse Racing," where the sound of the huqin ensemble painted a vivid and lively horse racing scene. The final piece, "New Dragon Dance," brought waves of climax, concluding the performance in a cheerful atmosphere, met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Mr. Gao, a Hong Kong resident, expressed, "I was deeply moved at the end. The musicians were amazing, and traditional Chinese musical instruments are so charming." Student Qiu, who came to watch before the school break, said, "Even after the performance ended, I was still immersed in it. The melodies of traditional Chinese music are so beautiful. I hope such performances can come to our school in the future, so my teachers and classmates can also experience it."

Guests in attendance included Xue Lijun, Vice General Manager of Bauhinia Culture Group Limited; Li Jinsheng, Chairman of China Arts and Entertainment Group Limited; Zhao Cong, Director of the Central National Music Orchestra; Wang Lu, General Manager of China Foreign Performance Co., Ltd.; and Yan Huichang, Artistic Director of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.

Before the performance in Hong Kong, the Central National Music Orchestra held a significant concert titled "National Charm and Elegance" at the Jinwan Art Center in Zhuhai on Dec 23. The event covered classic works from different periods and styles, encompassing performances of the four categories of national orchestral music—blowing, plucking, string, and percussion. This led the audience to experience the unique aesthetic taste and artistic conception of Chinese national music, playing a new chapter in the integration of cultural development in the Greater Bay Area.

In 2024, under the joint guidance of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, supported by the Bauhinia Culture Group, organized by China Arts and Entertainment Group Limited, and managed by China Foreign Performance Co., Ltd., the "Hong Kong with National Style and Charm" brand project in Hong Kong featured a series of performances including the Central Ballet Troupe's ballet dramas "Swan Lake" and "The Red Detachment of Women," the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater's dance drama "Confucius," the National Peking Opera Theatre's Peking Opera "Legend of the White Snake," the Yangzhou Song and Dance Theatre's dance drama "The Thirteen Beauties of Jinling," the Ningbo Performing Arts Group's dance drama "Hua Mulan," and the Hubei Song and Dance Drama Theater's "Opera, Bells, and Symphony Concert," bringing a variety of splendid artistic works to the Hong Kong audience.

The grand opening performance of the "Hong Kong with National Style and Charm" brand will feature the debut of the classic dance drama "Li Bai" from the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater, with three consecutive performances scheduled from January 3rd to 5th at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Let us look forward to the future as the "Hong Kong with National Style and Charm" brand brings more outstanding works of performing arts from the mainland to the Hong Kong audience.