Voices in harmony celebrate Sino-Russian friendship

With 2024 and 2025 designated as the China-Russia Years of Culture, the China National Symphony Orchestra Chorus staged a performance at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Sunday, showcasing the grandeur of Russian classical works and highlighting the cultural exchange between the two countries.

Led by renowned Russian conductor Yevgeny Volkov, the chorus performed 14 iconic Chinese and Russian choral works.

A major highlight of the concert was the use of dual piano accompaniment for several pieces. Pianists Li Yue, Bai Jie and Ji Yujue took turns at the pianos, interweaving their melodies with the choir's powerful voices. This collaboration brought a rich, layered texture to the performance, enhancing well-known pieces such as Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince Igor, Oedipus, and excerpts from The Yellow River Cantata.