The large-scale real-landscape concert of Chinese orchestra "The Grand Canal" was presented at the opening ceremony of the 4th Grand Canal Culture and Tourism Expo, which was a great cultural and tourism event in Jiangsu Province. With the theme of China's Grand Canal, the concert selected local operas or classic folk songs of eight provinces that the canal passes through from north to south, and recomposed them in the form of Chinese Orchestra. Nine pieces of music of three movements, which are "Ancient Canal", "Colorful Canal" and "Eternal Canal", tell the history of this man-made canal, which is more than 2,500 years old now. The music shows the varied folk customs of the provinces and cities along the Grand Canal, and explains the rich and everlasting historical, cultural and spiritual value of the Grand Canal.
The concert was held at the foot of the beautiful Tiger Hill Pagoda in Suzhou. It was conducted by Peng Jiapeng, the famous conductor and Art Supervisor of the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra. Those who played in the concert were: Zhu Changyao, the famous erhu player and Art Director of the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra; Jiang Kemei, the famous huqin player; He Yun, the laureate of the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award; Wu Zhanghua, the famous bamboo flute player; Chen Yang, the young singer; Zhang Guoming, Wu Yahui and Wang Haiyun, suona players from the Chinese Orchestra of Hebei Opera and Dance Theater; Wang Mou, the main instrument player of Anhui Huangmei Opera Theater, and other well-known artists with both local characteristics and national influence. Besides, the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra, Choir of the Academy of Music, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, and the Changshu Jiangnan Philharmonic Choir also shared the stage. Famous artists played classical music and struck a chord with the audience in cities along the canal.
