Shanghai Symphony brings Expo message to New York

NEW YORK - The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the first foreign symphony performed at the New York Philharmonic's annual concert, brought 2010 Expo message to New York on Tuesday.

The 80-member orchestra shared the stage with the New York Philharmonic for the free concert after a heavy rain as thousands of New Yorkers gathered at Central Park's Great Lawn.

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The annual concert was divided into two sections, the first half by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the second half by New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

With the conduction by Chinese famous conductor Yu Long, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra played the music pieces of Wagner, Rossini, and Mozart.

Baritone Liao Changyong and Soprano Huang Ying received long-lasting applauds from audience and their chorus of the Shanghai Expo theme song --- "To the World Expo," which combined Eastern and Western music culture, made all the audience intoxicated.

Shanghai Expo Ambassador and Young Pianist Lang Lang played the concert finale track with Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the piece of "Rhapsody in Blue" from Gershwin. The performance won sustained and enthusiastic applause from the audience.

"This concert makes more people know the Shanghai Expo. And through this concert, (I hope) people can come to Shanghai, to China, for travelling and visiting, and then falling in love with our cities," the young pianist said.

"I am honored to be the music director of the legendary Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, which has become a worldwide cultural ambassador for Shanghai," Yu Long told reporters.

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, which has a history of 131 years, is the first foreign guest of New York Philharmonic Orchestra in the Symphony Park Summer Concert which firstly started in 1965.

"The music is a language that everyone can understand. So it's the best way to promote the World Expo and spread friendships," said Deputy Secretary of Shanghai Weng Tiehui.

"We can communicate with Western friends by using such a language (music), I think the concert is very meaningful and important," she added.

Shanghai is the host of the 2010 World Expo and has been greeting people from all over the world who come and visit. The event opened on May 1 and will end on October 31.

"It's good for relations between two countries," said Zarin Mehta, president and executive director of the New York Philharmonic. "I like these types of cultural exchanges."

As musical and cultural ambassadors of the city of New York, the Philharmonic was honored to host the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, which serves as a musical ambassador from China, he said.