Concert honors 80th anniversary of victory in War of Resistance

"The Yellow River is roaring, the Yellow River is roaring!"

When the majestic chorus of the Yellow River Cantata resounded through the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, accompanied by the full power of a symphony orchestra, the audience was transported back to the wartime years when the Chinese people courageously resisted Japanese fascism.

History and modernity converged at the commemorative event, as overseas Chinese in the United States used music to honor their motherland's sacrifice and resilience, while also expressing their shared yearning for peace.

Co-organized by the Roundtable of Chinese American Organizations and Chinese communities across Southern California, the large-scale concert brought together nearly 300 orchestral musicians and choir members to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

"While the victory was momentous, it came at great cost," Lu Qiang, the concert's chief planner, told China Daily. "We have enjoyed 80 years of peace because of the sacrifices. Yet today, we still see war and hunger in the world. This makes our responsibility even greater, and through today's concert, we hope to awaken everyone to join together in safeguarding world peace."

First performed in 1939, the Yellow River Cantata remains one of the most important works in modern Chinese classical music. Composer Xian Xinghai blended Western forms such as the cantata and symphony with traditional Chinese folk melodies and instruments. Set to poet Guang Weiran's patriotic verses, the work became a rallying cry that inspired millions during the war of resistance.

Eighty years later, its power remains undiminished. Huang Hongjiang, deputy consul general of China in LA, emphasized the enduring symbolic force of the Yellow River and its music.

"The Yellow River has borne witness to the suffering and struggle of the Chinese nation and nurtured its resilience and strength. Over 80 years ago, at the critical juncture of national survival, the Yellow River Cantata came into being, inspiring hundreds of millions of Chinese people to fight bravely and becoming a battle song that rallied the nation's strength," Huang told the audience.

He also urged reflection on history's lessons.

"Eighty years ago, the Chinese and American peoples shared a common hatred for the enemy and fought side by side to safeguard peace and justice. History teaches us that only through unity and cooperation can we overcome common challenges, and only through mutual respect can we avoid the tragedy of conflict."

Huang stressed that as the world's two largest economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the US bear special responsibility.

"We should develop our relations with a sense of responsibility to history, to our peoples and to the world, jointly promoting peace and friendship," he said.