Chinanews.com, Hangzhou, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Visiting international violinist Yao Jue: For more than 4 years, Hong Kong's love has been linked to the heart of the motherland
Written by Guo Qiyu
In the center of the stage, Yao Jue was wearing a silver dress. When the bowstrings touched, familiar Hong Kong music such as "My Pride", "Red Sun" and "Love is Eternal" flowed out, and the applause in the Zhejiang Concert Hall rang out, and the atmosphere was warm.
Yao Jue performed at the Zhejiang Concert Hall. Photo courtesy of the interviewee
Yao Jue is an internationally renowned violinist and founder of the Hong Kong String Orchestra, and in an interview with a reporter from Chinanews.com, she recalled that the solo concert in Hangzhou on the evening of the 2nd was still warm. For more than <> years, she has carried a piano from Hong Kong to the world, telling Chinese stories well in the language of music.
Yao Jue was born in a musical family in Shanghai and came to Hong Kong in 1997 because of love. At that time, at the historical moment of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Yao Jue was fortunate to participate in the celebration performance at the Hung Hom Sports Centre in Hong Kong, and opened a new chapter of life on the banks of the Hong Kong River.
"At that time, I played the Chinese song "Summer Night", which expressed the nostalgia for my hometown and the feeling of Hong Kong, which had been away from the motherland for nearly 100 years, when it returned to the motherland." Yao Jue still remembers the scene at that time.
Since then, Yao Jue has participated in celebrations at major moments such as the 10th, 20th, and 25th anniversaries of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, and she has also gone from a solo solo to leading more young Hong Kong artists to grow together.
"Last year, I led Hong Kong young musicians to participate in the performance to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, and I was even more excited. Through my 26 years of struggle in Hong Kong, I have passed on my music and feelings to the next generation, which is the hope for the future. Yao Jue said.
In her view, the vigorous development of Hong Kong's culture and arts has also made her personal, "Hong Kong has given me a lot of platforms and courage to try more possibilities, not only as a violinist, but also to devote myself to art education, open schools, and establish orchestras." ”
With a grateful heart, Yao Jue founded the Hong Kong String Orchestra in 2013, aiming to cultivate more young string elites and create a stage and opportunities for young local artists in Hong Kong.
"It's really hard for musicians in Hong Kong to become professional performers because Hong Kong is small and they don't have the opportunity to perform." In order to help Hong Kong's young musicians open up a wider market, Yao Jue has led the orchestra to perform in the mainland many times, and she believes that the future career of Hong Kong young artists lies in the mainland.
Yao Jue still remembers that on the occasion of the 2018th anniversary of reform and opening up in 40, she led the Hong Kong String Orchestra on a tour of the mainland, hoping that the members would integrate into the country's development and feel the unique advantages of Hong Kong backed by the motherland and facing the world.
"Many young people are amazed when they see that the theaters in some small cities in the mainland are clean and advanced, and the music literacy of the audience is also excellent." Yao Jue told reporters that now these young people can perform four or five times a week and take the high-speed train back to Hong Kong in the evening, which shows that the vast market of the motherland has greatly helped their career development.
"Music has power, and it shouldn't just be in the theater, but in society as a whole." Over the past ten years, Yao Jue has led the Hong Kong String Orchestra to launch the Music Energy Program, which has trained more than 700 ordinary children to learn strings for free, using the power of music to brighten their lives and illuminate the future of Hong Kong.
As a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Yao Jue is concerned about China's 14th Five-Year Plan to support Hong Kong's development as an East-meets-West cultural exchange centre. How to tell Chinese stories and Hong Kong stories that the world can understand, Yao Jue believes that music is the best way.
"As a world language without borders, music can promote communication between different countries and peoples, and promote us to understand each other's cultures." Yao Jue said that being a Chinese is lucky, and more than 5,000 years of excellent Chinese culture has given musicians a steady stream of inspiration and nutrients.
She shared that she once played "Fangma Mountain Song" in Finland, which is a repertoire adapted from Yunnan folk songs, and after the performance, the local Finnish orchestra liked it very much and wanted to score and play this repertoire.
"If our performance can influence the audience and other orchestras in the world, so that they can take the initiative to understand, like and learn about the excellent Chinese culture, then we are telling Chinese stories that they can understand." Yao Jue said.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, Yao Jue also led the Hong Kong String Orchestra to perform in cities along the "Belt and Road", building a bridge of friendship in the name of music and going to the "Silk Road Covenant". (ENDS)