The sixth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Culture and Arts Festival opened in Shenzhen on October 31, with the premiere of an original symphonic suite, Pearl River, as its centerpiece.
The performance brought together the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra and the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theater Chorus. Across its five movements, the suite takes the Pearl River as its central theme, tracing the region's natural landscapes, cultural heritage and development through reform and opening-up.
The work blends symphonic music and choral singing with traditional Lingnan music and folk melodies from Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and Guizhou. Some sections also feature Cantonese lyrics, reflecting the cultural diversity of the Pearl River basin.
This year's festival brings together 75 productions, 148 performances, 25 exhibitions and nearly 100 outreach activities across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
The program features a lineup of internationally acclaimed artists, including opera soprano Anna Netrebko, pianist Yuja Wang, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and Grammy-winning jazz singer Diana Krall. Other highlights include the National Ballet of China's Swan Lake and the dance drama Wing Chun. A record 36 productions will make their GBA debuts during the festival.
The festival will conclude on December 3 at Guangzhou's Xinghai Concert Hall with a concert version of Verdi's La Traviata.
Reporter: Li Muzi
Photo: Chen Junpeng
