Festivals under the stars woo music lovers

To appeal to music lovers with different tastes, the organizers also invited pop stars, rock bands, jazz and folk musicians, and choruses from local schools to perform.

The two concerts were produced by the Zheng Xiaoying Opera Center, a new art institution launched by the eponymous conductor in Xiamen this year.

The country's first female orchestra conductor since New China was founded in 1949, Zheng, now 93, has promoted opera among Chinese music lovers, supported young conductors-especially females-and focused her music education programs particularly on Xiamen.

She has a special bond with Fujian province.

Zheng comes from a Hakka family. In November 2000, The Echoes of Hakka's Earth Buildings, an original work composed by Liu Yuan about the Hakka people's history and lives, was premiered by Zheng in Longyan city, Fujian. The piece was performed by the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, which Zheng founded in 1998. Since 2000, she has staged the work more than 70 times in total, in countries such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

Gao, one of Zheng's students, who is a resident conductor at the Zheng Xiaoying Opera Center and a teacher at the Tianjin Conservatory of Music, said: "Outdoor performances have brought opera to more people, many of whom may not attend operatic performances at concert halls. During the pandemic, we have all shared feelings such as anxiety and disappointment, as our lives have been badly affected and our plans disrupted. We need nights like these, with music and nature coming together."

According to the organizer, this year, the third Gulangyu Music Festival marked the fifth anniversary of Gulangyu Island's success in becoming a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Gulangyu, also known as Kulangsu, has a history that dates to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It is known for its 19th-century colonial buildings, leafy seaside promenades, white-sand beaches, and legacy of classical music, which are big attractions for tourists.

Gao said, "Gulangyu, also known as 'piano island', has a long tradition of classical music, with many families owning pianos." She added that she loves visiting the island, especially strolling through its residential area, where music often drifts from open windows.