More than 200 young musicians from Shanghai are will perform in the north-east today alongside one of the world’s oldest conductors.
The Shanghai City Young Symphony Orchestra and Shanghai Young Philharmonic Orchestra gathered at the Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen yesterday for the city’s international youth festival’s welcome concert.
The award-winning orchestras will today give an exclusive classical performance at the venue before heading to Edinburgh’s International Fringe Festival.
They will be led by 92-year-old conductor Cho Peng.
Chris Wong, chief producer of the groups, said he was delighted to be back in the Granite City.
“We have known of this festival for a long time and believe it to be one of the best young festivals in the world which we have a lot of admiration for,” he said.
“Aberdeen has created this festival to show their love of young music and young art and that is now spreading all the way to China and we are very excited to showcase what we have been working on.
“All of the students are very excited to be here and I believe it could be a lifetime experience for them and will remember it for a very long time.
“Most excitingly we have famous conductor, Cho Peng, who is 92 years old with us. He has created some of China’s most famous music and worked alongside former Prime Minister, Edward Health, so it is an honour to have him here.”
Mr Peng added: “This festival symbolises a great relationship between Scotland and China and I am looking forward to seeing orchestras from across the globe.
“Music has no boundaries, it is universal, and now I’m 92 years old I hope I will be back when I am 95 and 100. Music I believe is what has allowed me to live such a long life.”
Yesterday’s welcome concert was attended by more than 700 performers from across the globe.
The festival’s artistic director, Stewart Aitken said: “We have over 700 people here, including returning groups as well as new groups.
“Having the Shanghai’s orchestra here too I hope will be the start of a new relationship for Aberdeen and hopefully they will love their time in Scotland.”
