Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates 50th birthday

Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra celebrated its 50th birthday with a concert held in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Dec 29.

With 88-year-old conductor Bian Zushan and 24-year-old conductor Jin Yukuang, the orchestra performed programs including Sichuan Image by composer Ye Xiaogang, Scent of Green Mango also by Ye, featuring pianist Luo Wei, and Die Fledermaus Overture by Johann Strauss, and 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky.

Violinist Huang Bin performed The Carmen Fantasy, one of the best-known works of the Spanish composer Pablo de Sarasate, along with the orchestra.

On the same day, musicians and representatives from Chinese orchestras attended a forum initiated by Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra, reviewing its history.

The Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra also announced Ye, who is also the president of the Chinese Musicians' Association, and the founding dean of School of Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, as its artistic director during the forum.