Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- For the first time since the pandemic, China held the traditional concert program “Merry Spring Festival” in Uzbekistan, which takes place in honor of the new year according to the Chinese calendar. The grandiose event was organized at the State Academic Bolshoi Theater named after Alisher Navoi.

The long-awaited event this time was also different in the content of the concert. This year it presented the opera art of China. It is no coincidence that the concert was called “Aria along the Silk Road”.

At the beginning of the event, the Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Yu Jun and Deputy Minister of Culture Murodjon Majidov spoke to its many participants.

Opening the concert, Yu Jun expressed gratitude for the support provided to the Ministry of Culture of Uzbekistan, the State Academic Bolshoi Theater named after Alisher Navoi, as well as all Uzbek citizens who constantly support cultural and humanitarian exchanges between the two countries.

“Today, the creative team of the Central Opera House of China, together with the famous tenor, director of the Bolshoi Theater of Uzbekistan Mr. Ramiz Usmanov and the Symphony Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater will present a brilliant concert that will allow us to immerse ourselves in a cheerful festive atmosphere and feel the charm of Chinese-Uzbek cultural exchanges,” the Ambassador said China.

He also said that two days ago this concert was held at the Samarkand Regional Musical Drama Theater and caused a great resonance.

“China and Uzbekistan are ancient civilizations and reliable partners on the path of joint development. Most recently, the respected President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev made a state visit to China, during which the two leaders of our countries elevated bilateral relations to the level of an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership in a new era. These significant historical events and a new breakthrough in Chinese-Uzbek relations give new impetus to the development of bilateral cooperation in various fields, including in the field of cultural exchanges,” Yu Jun noted.

He also emphasized that the Days of Culture of Uzbekistan were successfully held in China as part of Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit. Chinese spectators were presented with a unique production “Langi - Dance of Soul and Love” with the participation of the ballet troupe of the Bolshoi Theater of Uzbekistan, which took place on the stage of the Central Opera House of China. In addition, in May last year, an artistic group of about a hundred people from the Bolshoi Theater of Uzbekistan also made a successful tour to the Central Opera House of China.

“A close cooperative relationship has been established between the two theaters, which is the embodiment of fruitful bilateral interaction in the field of culture and art. I am very pleased to note that in recent years there has been high dynamics of cultural and humanitarian ties between the two countries. Mutual understanding and friendship between peoples continue to strengthen,” said the Chinese Ambassador.

During the concert, Chinese opera performers performed excerpts from national Chinese operas, as well as world opera classics. Famous arias from operas such as “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart, “La Bohème” and “Turandot” by Giacomo Puccini and others were performed at a high professional level.

And in an excerpt from “Rigoletto” by Giuseppe Verdi, People’s Artist of Uzbekistan Ramiz Usmanov joined the soloists of China. The creative collaboration of talents from the two countries evoked admiring applause from the audience.

The audience also unanimously applauded the performance of the Chinese violinists who took part in the concert.

This “Merry Spring Festival” became a celebration of the classical opera and musical art of the People’s Republic of China and introduced the high level of soloists of the Central Opera Theater of China to Uzbekistan. This concert introduced new talented notes into the sound of the cultural and humanitarian community of the two countries.