BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Along the Tongzhou section of the Grand Canal, the world's longest artificial waterway, the granary-shaped Beijing Performing Arts Center has welcomed bands and performers from all over the world.

The Playtoy Orchestra from Italy was among the performers who delighted the Chinese audience with an artistic feast this April. After nearly five years, the orchestra made a comeback to China, performing seven performances in its first stop in Beijing.

At the venue, all seats were nearly occupied, and the shifting hues of the lighting imparted a dreamlike atmosphere to the Orchestra's performance. When the Italian singer rendered the popular Chinese song "The Snail and the Oriole Birds," it prompted many in the audience to join in singing along.

The well-received performance by the Italian orchestra exemplified the thriving performance market in China. In the first quarter of this year, the Chinese performance market demonstrated resilience, even during the off-season, with a positive start.

According to data from the China Association of Performing Arts, the number of commercial performances (excluding performances in entertainment venues) nationwide reached 119,000, up 72.71 percent year on year.

Accordingly, the box office revenue amounted to 10.8 billion yuan (about 1.52 billion U.S. dollars), up 116.87 percent year on year, and the number of viewers totaled around 38.87 million, up 77.88 percent year on year.

This concert, featuring "toys" as instruments, includes mini pianos and accordions, sound-producing pig toys, and balloons that make sounds when pierced with needles. With the musicians' performance and coordination, these everyday toys found in children's homes produce imaginative and lively melodies.

Compared to his last visit to China, the orchestra's director, Fabrizio Cusani, noticed significant changes in Beijing, citing the construction of many new buildings, increased achievements in digital development, and improved English proficiency among young audiences.

Over 20 years ago, the children playing a song with toys inspired Cusani. He later established the orchestra and performed on TV stations, theaters, and other venues. The orchestra gradually grew and expanded, and to this day, they have performed in countries and regions including Italy, China, Colombia, Luxembourg, France, Poland, Portugal, and the Republic of Korea.

Cusani can still remember his performance in China from nearly five years ago when he was invited by Tong Productions to China and held more than ten concerts in multiple Chinese cities.

Cusani noted that every performance venue in China had been well-organized, with enthusiastic audiences creating a harmonious atmosphere, and during the performances, they had invited children to come on stage and participate, who could immerse themselves in the experience quickly.

The orchestra also visited many tourist attractions, such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, met friendly Chinese people, and enjoyed delicacies all around.

By the opportunity of the whole journey in China, Cusani had a clearer view of the real China, which is a far cry from the information he had seen in some newspapers and websites.

China is a country that loves peace, said Cusani, who noted that the good relations between the Chinese and Italian governments are very important for the friendly exchanges and economic and trade exchanges between the two countries' people.

Nowadays, many Chinese students are in Italian universities and music colleges. Chinese language, culture, and art are also heating up in Italy, according to Cusani, who has also mastered simple Chinese vocabulary and learned several Chinese songs.

The concert, this time, featured both classical Western songs and traditional songs from China and Italy. Cusani hopes to learn more Chinese songs from a musical perspective in the future. Enditem

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