Civic cultural event kicks off in Ningbo

Cello lovers from Xianxiang town perform with members of the Ningbo Symphony Orchestra at a concert marking the start of the year-long 10th Ningbo Civic Cultural and Art Festival in Ningbo on March 5. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

The start of the 10th Ningbo Civic Culture and Art Festival – the largest cultural event in the city – was marked by a concert held along Dongqian Lake in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on March 5.

The concert, entitled "Spring Lakeside Concert 2023", was held at the Shangshui Lakeside Park. With the tagline "listening to the spring", a variety of musical performances, such as cello, symphony, folk songs, operas, dances and ­electronic music, were held.

More than 20 cello lovers from Xianxiang town in Yinzhou district, the ancestral home of renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, performed the waltz Voices of Spring with members of the Ningbo Symphony Orchestra. The 67-year-old Chen Shuaiping and his 12-year-old granddaughter Zhang Yuanyuan were the lead performers.

Chen, who has been learning to play the cello for three years, dreamed of playing it on a big stage. "My dream has come true," he said.

"I'm excited to perform with a professional symphony orchestra for the first time," said Zhang.

Unlike in previous years, the 10th Ningbo Civic Cultural and Art Festival will last until the end of the year, during which time more than 3,000 cultural and art activities will be held across the city.