CULTURE

Nutcracker

Harbin Ballet

Date: October 6-7,2023

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Tchaikovsky’s classic balletTheNutcracker,is based on the German author E.T.A.Hoffmann’s fairytaleTheNutcrackerandthe MouseKing.The story sees a human-shaped nutcracker doll come to life magically,transforming into a handsome young prince who leads the female protagonist,Clara,through the snow country to the mysterious candy fairyland,where they receive the warmest welcome and hospitality from the host.

Founded in 2019,Harbin Ballet is affiliated with Harbin Culture,Radio,Television,and Tourism Bureau,with Zhang Dandan,a famous ballet artist,as head and artistic director.The interpretation of the new version ofTheNutcrackernot only shows excellence in choreography and dancers,but also presents gorgeous and dreamy scenes with fantastic accompanying audio-visual effects.

Vladimir Fedoseyev

Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra

Date: September 27,2023

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Vladimir Fedoseyev,artistic director and chief conductor of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra and permanent guest conductor of Opernhaus Zurich and Zurich Tonhalle,is renowned the world over for his interpretations of a staggeringly broad range of composers from various epochs and styles.Over his long career,Fedoseyev has won numerous interna-tional awards.

The Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra(originally the Grand Symphony Orchestra of All-Union Radio and Central Television)was founded in 1930 as the first symphony orchestra of the Soviet Union.It has repeatedly proved its claim to be one of the world’s best orchestras.

International Forum on Chinese Literature Held in Nanjing

The International Communication Forum on Chinese Literature,along with the 6th International Sinologists Conference on Translating Chinese Literature,commenced in Nanjing City on September 5.

The events were co-hosted by the Chinese Writers Association and the Nanjing Municipal People’s Government.

The forum welcomed 32 sinologists from 24 countries and more than 40 renowned domestic writers and international communication experts.

Nanjing is the only Chinese city recognized in the UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature initiative.The historic and cultural city has played a pivotal role in literary exchange between China and other countries.

In the 16th century,Nanjing spearheaded the translation of theFourBooks andFiveClassics— central texts of Confucianism — for European readers.To date,the city has translated over 60 foreign literary works into Chinese.It is home to thousands of literary societies and associations,with nearly 1,000 works translated and published annually.

Established in 2010,the International Sinologists Conference on Translating Chinese Literature takes place biennially.

Exhibition on World Heritage City Quanzhou in Sydney

A new exhibition opened in Sydney on August 10,showcasing the cultural and historical charm of Quanzhou City in east China’s Fujian Province.

Quanzhou was one of the world’s largest ports along the historical Maritime Silk Road,particularly during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).It was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.

The Exhibition of the World Heritage City Quanzhou and Its Intangible Cultural Heritage presents the long history and unique landscapes of Quanzhou and highlights the consummate craftsmanship of local intangible cultural inheritors.It is designed with a focus on globally-relevant and intangible cultural heritage such as carving,embroidery,and puppet shows.Visitors are treated to immersive,handson experiences with these cultural treasures.

Xiao Xiayong,director of the China Cultural Center in Sydney,said that he hoped this exhibition will allow Australian people to have a more comprehensive experience of the charm of Quanzhou,and further promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia.

The exhibition will be held at the China Cultural Center in Sydney until October 6.It is co-hosted by the China Cultural Center in Sydney and Fujian’s culture and tourism bureau,and organized by Quanzhou’s culture,broadcasting,and tourism bureau.

Award Ceremony Held to Honor Foreigners for Contribution to Cultural Exchanges

The inaugural Orchid Awards ceremony was held in Beijing on September 8,honoring foreigners who have promoted humanity’s shared values,and facilitated cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world and mutual learning among global civilizations.

Li Shulei,a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC)Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee,attended the ceremony and delivered a speech.

Among the 10 foreign awardees were Joseph W.Polisi from the United States,Essam Sharaf from Egypt,Flora Botton Beja from Mexico,and David Ferguson from the United Kingdom.

The awardees agreed that fostering deeper people-topeople exchanges and cultivating mutual understanding constitute a shared global aspiration.In light of this,they called for more cultural envoys to promote exchanges and mutual learning among diverse civilizations.

Regarding their roles in implementing the Global Civilization Initiative,the awardees pledged more contributions to enhancing consensus among societies and promoting closer people-to-people ties.

Over 300 people from related departments of the central government,international organizations,diplomatic envoys in China,representatives of Chinese and foreign think tanks,and media organizations attended the ceremony.An international cultural forum was held after the award ceremony.

The Orchid Awards is spearheaded by the China International Communication Group.