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In celebration of the 130th anniversary of Mr. Xu Beihong’s birth, the cross-disciplinary concert “The Chinese Symphony in Xu Beihong’s Brushstrokes” will be grandly staged at the Shenzhen Concert Hall on November 14th. This event is jointly organized by the Futian District Committee’s Publicity Department and United Front Work Department, co-organized by Shenzhen Concert Hall and Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, and undertaken by the Xu Beihong Art Committee and Shenzhen Xu Beihong Culture and Art Center.
This production is the first in China to present Xu Beihong’s paintings and artistic spirit through a large-scale symphony. It represents a major effort by Futian District to build a high-end cultural brand and serves as a new bridge for international cultural exchange.
To promote Chinese aesthetic education and enrich campus culture, we have specially curated a series of art promotion activities, bringing “The Chinese Symphony in Xu Beihong’s Brushstrokes” to The Affiliated Mingde High School of CUHK (Shenzhen). This program offers an elegant artistic experience that blends visual and auditory elements, connecting history with humanities—a vivid, interdisciplinary lesson in aesthetic education.
The event opened with a welcome speech by Mr. Zhang Wenchang, Director of the Xu Beihong Culture and Art Center. He chronicled the master’s artistic journey: learning painting from his father at age eight, teaching art at three schools in Yixing by seventeen, being admitted to Aurora University at nineteen, and later studying in France. Upon returning to China, Xu Beihong pioneered the global promotion of Chinese culture by organizing European tours of Chinese art exhibitions. He dedicated his life to art education, serving as the first president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and is recognized as the founder of modern art education in China. His iconic work “Galloping Horse” remains a masterpiece of East-West artistic innovation.
Director Zhang also noted that the piece “Xu Beihong’s Color-Ink Paintings” from the symphony had its world premiere at New York’s Lincoln Center in 2022, making the Shenzhen performance its Chinese debut. The concert is conceived and will feature a piano performance by Ms. Xu Fangfang, daughter of Xu Beihong and founding head of the Music Department at Renmin University’s Xu Beihong School of Arts. We are also honored to have Ms. Xu’s former student, Chen Chen, a graduate of the school, and her team, who will perform and lead exchanges at this music salon.
The opening piece was selected from the classic melody “Blossoms Under a Bright Moon,” which originates from Xu Beihong’s hometown. Its beautiful and widely adored melody set the tone for the session. Following the performance, the speaker Chen Chen shared anecdotes from Xu Beihong’s life and explained the original inspiration behind the “Chinese Symphony in Xu Beihong’s Brushstrokes” concert. She fondly recalled her student days at the Xu Beihong School of Arts, the mentorship she received from her teacher Ms. Xu Fangfang, and how Xu Beihong’s paintings have profoundly inspired her musical interpretation, expressing her deep gratitude for Ms. Xu’s guidance and cultivation.
This classic French anthem was performed in homage to Mr. Xu Beihong’s eight years of study in France. The subsequent talk detailed his formative experiences and the profound artistic foundation he built during his stay in the country.
These two pieces were performed as a medley. Following the performance, the speaker engaged in an interactive session with the students.
The performance was accompanied by the projection of Xu Beihong’s painting 《猫戏图》”Kittens at Play.” Following the piece, Director Zhang Wenchang took the stage to explain the creative background and artistic characteristics of this work.
《赛马》Horse Racing
The performance was accompanied by a visual presentation of Xu Beihong’s painting 《群奔马图》”Galloping Horses.” Director Zhang Wenchang then provided an in-depth interpretation of Xu Beihong’s “Galloping Horse” series. Subsequently, speaker Chen Chen and Director Zhang jointly hosted an interactive session with the students centered on the theme of 《奔马》”Horses,” inviting them to share idioms related to horses, which sparked a fervent and lively atmosphere.
The students participated with great enthusiasm. To conclude, Zhang Wenchang encouraged the high school students by invoking the “奔马精神 Spirit of the Galloping Horse” embodied in Xu Beihong’s works, wishing them resounding success and a triumphant victory in their upcoming college entrance examinations.
These two distinctive pieces were performed as a medley, driving the atmosphere to its climax.
The session reached a powerful finale with a collective sing-along. Teachers and students united in a chorus, their voices filled with love and best wishes for the motherland.
The music salon concluded amidst profound emotion and warm applause, with the students reluctantly leaving the auditorium. This event provided them with a much-needed audio-visual feast amidst their demanding academic schedule, offering both relaxation and spiritual nourishment. It has reinvigorated their spirits to face the upcoming challenges of the college entrance examinations with renewed vigor.
Representatives of the teachers and students took a group photo with the musicians.
