DUNHUANG 12.25: the first western holiday in western music

The discovery of the Library Cave in the Mogao Grottoes in 1900 revealed a hidden history of ancient China. As 「one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the 20th century」, it made Dunhuang well known to the world.

Today after over a century has passed, the local citizens are benefitting from the discovery more and more, not only in the economy but something beyond, as the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra paid their first visit to the town on Christmas Day of 2016 for the opening season of the Dunhuang Grand Theater...

DUNHUANG 12.25: the first western holiday in western music

BY Tan Shuo | arts journalist

At 6:45 pm on December 25, 2016, the Dunhuang Grand Theater saw Helsinki Baroque Orchestra rehearsing on the stage. They were going to give their last concert of their tour in China.

In the foyer, the background music Jingle Bells was trying hard to penetrate the gates of the hall, seeming to remind everyone of a western holiday today, yet the effort was in vain, for no one in the rehearsal was distracted. Apparently, the joyful carol was not for the Finnish musicians, but to welcome those who were making headway toward the venue in a freezing cold of minus 7 degrees...

The theater, whose construction was completed on August 18, 2016, is situated over five kilometers away from the town--a distance never means short to the locals. In other words, none of the audience came by public transport, for the city buses have not yet reached such far.

Nevertheless, people were coming over--one after another, more and more…

? TANTANYY | Keeping pace with China in the performing arts

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