Sun, sea and symphony

When asked why the opening concert focused on the works of Beethoven, Wan said that many Chinese people are very familiar with the composer. "We chose Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, also known as Symphony of Destiny, in the opening concert, because it is from C minor to C major. The musical development process also indicates that we can overcome difficulties in life, as long as we never give up and have perseverance," she explained.

Wan comes to Haikou every year to both perform and rest. She has witnessed the city's fast development, including that of its coastline, where a number of fashionable and well-designed high-rises have sprung up.

Wan noted that every time she runs along the coastal path under the Haikou Century Bridge at sunrise, she always thinks of the classical melodies of Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Sergey Rachmaninoff and others.

She said the idea of holding an international music festival in Haikou dawned on her three years ago. "Haikou has a unique natural landscape, Hainan island is a famous international tourism destination, and music is the language of the world. It is really romantic to present an international festival centered around music, culture and artistic dialogue by the sea, combining the trend of art, local culture and the marine landscape of Haikou."

Xu Mo, a 39-year-old classical music enthusiast from Shanghai, has often traveled to Berlin and Salzburg to attend music festivals. "I'm amazed to see the world's top conductor and pianist tonight. For locals and tourists, the opening concert is definitely a grand musical and cultural feast. I think the continuous applause is the best praise and gratitude to the musicians," he said.

Lyu Siqing and Major Ensemble concert brought the Eternal Four Seasons, which comprises Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and Astor Piazzolla's Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, to music fans in Haikou on the evening of Dec 12. After the performance of Vivaldi's and Piazzolla's works, Lyu and the orchestra returned three times to the audience's enthusiastic applause and wrapped up the whole concert performing the classic The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto.

Xing Boshen, 25, a local music fan, admitted that he immediately burst into tears when he heard Lyu perform his rendition of The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, pushing the concert to its climax.

"It was said that Hainan is a cultural desert. But under the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port, the tropical island has quickly developed culture and art industries, and now it has successfully held international music festivals, film festivals and exhibitions," he said.

Xing added that he noticed some interesting details while attending the concert. The locals like to wear slippers and shorts throughout the year on the island, but for the concert, they all dressed formally to learn and appreciate the music.

He was more than happy to see such an international music festival held in the city. "For young people, after a whole day's work, we can release ourselves by listening to and appreciating the beautiful music which resonates with our feelings," he said.