Chinese rendition of Western symphony heralds Shanghai arts festival

China Shanghai International Arts Festival opened on Wednesday, bringing original or fusion arts to attendees over the course of a month.

A Chinese rendition of 19-century Austrian composer Gustav Mahler's Six Symphony will make its debut at the event. Director Chen Xinyi remade the Western classical music into a drama depicting the Long March.

"It is not a clumsy pairing. The symphony fits the theme quite well," said Yu Rongjun, who scripted the drama. He said skillful use of Western music to explain China's revolutionary history bridges Chinese and Western cultures.

"It sets the ground for deep cross-cultural dialogue on humanity," Yu said.

Among the 50 pieces of works contain those of music masters like Pyotr llyich Tchaikovsky and Dmitri Dmitriyevic Shostakovich, ballet "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and popular Chinese play "Fayuan Temple." Arts from Russia, Hungary, Czech, Israel, Qatar, Egypt -- countries grouped under the framework of China's Belt and Road Initiative were specifically featured.

Wang Jun, chief executive of China Shanghai International Arts Festival, said the festival aims to present Chinese elements on a global stage. "Our means of expression are becoming richer, freer, and more diversified," he added.

Since its inception in 1999, the annually held festival -- hosted by the Ministry of Culture and organized by Shanghai Municipal Government -- is a prime cultural event of Shanghai and has become a flagship platform for cultural exchanges.

In 2012, it created a scheme to support cash-strapped young artists to try out their artistic endeavors. In the past four years, close to 50 artists were funded to produce works of drama, music and dance.

Art critic Mao Shi'an said the program allows young Chinese artists to spread the "seeds" of Chinese culture as they "fly" high and around the world. Endi