Asian and European music, dance and drama will be presented side by side at the first Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Culture and Arts Festival in Beijing early September.

China's Ministry of Culture Thursday said the opening performance, an Asian-European classical symphony concert, would be staged at the egg-shaped National Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 2.

Famous Chinese conductor Li Xincao will lead Asian and European musicians at the concert in paying homage to classical music from East and West, said ministry official Dong Junxin, one of the festival's organizers.

The festival will end with an Asian-European Ethnic Music and Dance Gala at the new open-air square at Chaoyang Park.

The gala will involve folk musicians and dance troupes from more than 10 countries and regions across the Eurasian continent, Dong said.

The festival, from Sept. 2 to 8, falls into three categories -- Asian Arts, European Arts and Chinese Arts.

Four performances from Asian countries such as Mongolia and the Philippines will present different aspects of Asian civilization

Five concerts will paint the evolution of European music from classical to modern times.

A joint modern dance production "Prism" by Chinese, Swedish and Danish artists, will symbolize shared cultural innovation between Asia and Europe, Dong said.

Performances from the host country will include award-winning drama "Autumn Begins", dramatic dance "A Handful of Wild Jujubes",and a concert featuring Chinese vocalists from abroad.

The festival was proposed by China and agreed upon at the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting in Beijing last October.

The festival will further include an exhibition of art from foreign embassies in China, a big book fair and philately and numismatic exhibitions.

A forum will be held on Sept. 3 on the theme of cross-cultural communication between Asian and European countries to facilitate mutual understanding and respect in the context of globalization.

Comments