Group photo of the host guests at the Beijing International Music Festival
Beijing, January 15 (China News Network) -- The special public welfare activity of the Canadian music documentary "Chuckpesh", co-sponsored by the Public Diplomacy Office of the Canadian Embassy in China and the Beijing International Music Festival, was held at the Emperor Film City in Beijing on the 15th. More than 100 music and documentary enthusiasts came to the scene, not only feeling the charm of classical music culture, but also feeling the multi-ethnic culture of Canada through this documentary.
The music documentary "Chuckpesh" focuses on the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and conductor Ken Ye, recording the orchestra's creation of the chamber opera "Chokpesh" in 2018 with rich musician interviews, orchestra rehearsals and performances. This chamber opera tells in a relaxed way the epic story of the early heroes of the Innu, Canada's Aboriginal people.
Poster of the music documentary "Chakpesh" Courtesy of the Beijing International Music Festival
What makes this work, created by Aboriginal Playwrights and Composers, is sung in the three ancient languages of Innu, Creak and Inuit spoken by Aboriginal Canadians. Conductor Ken Noh and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra not only completed the premiere of the entire opera, but also carried the work to a successful tour in North Quebec, Canada. The close exchange between musicians and local Indigenous peoples during this tour and tour has aroused strong artistic resonance in the local area and throughout North America.
The documentary not only faithfully records the creation and rehearsal process of this opera, but also presents the original cultural resonance between Canada's multi-ethnic groups, and the audience's impression of the ice-and-snow Quebec region has created a new temperature because of an opera. For Chinese audiences, not only can they feel the artistic achievements of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra through this documentary, but also gain an insight into Canada's multi-ethnic culture.
Founded in 1934, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra has a long history of nearly 90 years, and bruno Walter, Stravinsky, Bernstein and other top masters of the twentieth century classical music scene have worked closely with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. The conductor Zubin Mehta, who is familiar to the audience, and the famous conductor Dutoy, who has appeared on the stage of the Beijing International Music Festival many times, have served as the music director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. In 2014, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra performed in China for the first time under the leadership of The Musical Director and Conductor Parent Ken Ye. On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of composer Richard Strauss, a high-quality concert of Strauss's works was presented to the audience through the stage of the Beijing International Music Festival.
"We are very excited to partner with the Beijing International Music Festival again to showcase Canadian culture to Chinese audiences through film screenings." Ni Jiemin, chargé d'affaires of the Canadian Embassy in China, said. As an art institution with an international perspective and an important partner of the Canadian Embassy in China, the Beijing International Music Festival provides a broad platform for many Canadian musicians and performing groups: in 2003, the Sixth Beijing International Music Festival, Canadian violinist Lara St. John took the stage in the opening concert; in 2010, the famous Canadian Teffee Banquet Baroque Orchestra took the stage of the Beijing International Music Festival.
Since its inception in 1998, the Beijing International Music Festival's all-out pursuit of innovation has not only profoundly changed the ecology of China's classical music industry, but also attracted the attention of the international music scene. In recent years, the Beijing International Music Festival has brought classical music into urban life by holding concerts at city landmarks and trendy gathering places. The film broadcast event, through the combination of music and film, let the bow string vibration and screen flicker merge, forming an interaction between music fans and movie fans.
It is reported that this public welfare activity is the first time that this documentary has been broadcast in China. (End)