On the evening of April 30, the Vienna Girls' Choir staged a concert titled "Hello" at Zhanjiang Theatre in Guangdong Province, South China, as part of its debut China tour. The young singers shared the stage with local Zhanjiang teenagers, building a bridge of friendship between the youth of China and Austria.
The Vienna Girls' Choir stages a concert in Zhanjiang.
The repertoire spanned from the Renaissance era to modern times, featuring classical masterpieces, film scores, jazz, and pop classics. To the audience's great delight, the choir members delivered fluent and heartfelt Chinese renditions of both traditional and contemporary Chinese songs, including "Jasmine Flower" and "A Little Happiness".
The Vienna Girls' Choir sings with Zhanjiang students.
During the encore, the Vienna Girls' Choir stood side by side with local Zhanjiang students to sing "Edelweiss" and the Chinese song "Contentment". The harmonious blend of voices from the young performers of the two countries, pure and sincere, elevated the atmosphere to a climax.
The Vienna Girls' Choir stages a concert in Zhanjiang.
Choir conductor Stefan Foidl said emotionally in an interview, "I can feel that people here are interested in classical music, as well as our culture. This has been a two-way cultural exchange."
Audience members pose for a photo in front of the event poster.
Prior to the official performance, these young ladies from the banks of the Danube River explored Chikan Old Street and immersed themselves in Zhanjiang's intangible cultural heritage. They tried their hands at puppetry, experienced traditional brick-and-stone rubbing techniques, enjoyed traditional Chinese lion dance performances, and watched Cantonese Opera presented by young artists from Zhanjiang. The girls exclaimed excitedly, "Bravo! Bravo!"
The Vienna Girls' Choir enjoys traditional Chinese lion dance performances.
Foidl spoke highly of the city, "It is a coastal paradise with a warm climate. The palm trees lining the streets evoke a pleasant holiday vibe."
Reporter: Zhou Mengya
Photo: Wu Dongjun
