As osmanthus fragrance fills the air and the bright moon casts its glow, the China Cultural Center in Copenhagen hosted a spectacular “A Moonment to Remember– the Concert for National Day & Mid-Autumn Festival” on October 1st. This vibrant celebration of China’s National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival wove together Chinese and Western art into a harmonious symphony of cultural exchange.
More than 100 guests, including diplomatic envoys to Denmark such as Wang Xuefeng, Chinese Ambassador to Denmark, and his spouse Professor Tong Xin, Sahib Salval, Pakistani Ambassador to Denmark, Siti Nurgrah Mauludi, Indonesian Ambassador to Denmark, Sumneema Tuladhar, Nepalese Ambassador to Denmark, Fikile Sylvia Magashane, South African Ambassador to Denmark, Ruan Licheng, Vietnamese Ambassador to Denmark, as well as Nikki Ottewig, city councilor of Slagelse, along with representatives from various sectors of Danish society and the Chinese community, gathered together. They celebrated the festival amidst melodious music, experiencing the profound heritage of Chinese culture and the colorful resonance of Danish culture.
In her welcoming address, Mu Xianghong, Director of the China Cultural Center in Copenhagen, highlighted that China has embarked on a glorious 76-year journey, while China-Denmark diplomatic friendship has withstood 75 years of trials. She emphasized that cultural exchange remains the solid cornerstone of bilateral friendship. This concert is not only a heartfelt tribute to traditional festivals but also a testament to China’s wisdom of “appreciating one’s own beauty while embracing the beauty of others”, she stated.
This event, guided by the core concept of “harmony in diversity and mutual learning among civilizations,” was brilliantly divided into two parts.
The first part featured a curated selection of classic Chinese and Western string music, showcasing both the unique charm of Chinese folk songs and the elegant harmony of Western classical music. The Central Conservatory of Music’s Lyric String Quartet demonstrated exceptional skill in performing Western classics such as Edvard Grieg’s “String Quartet No. 1 in G minor” and Carl Nielsen’s “String Quartet in G minor.” They also beautifully presented Zhou Long’s Eight Chinese Folk Songs (including beloved tunes like Jasmine Flower and Lan Huahua), where the strings echoed the grandeur of the Loess Plateau, blending earthy strength with poetic depth. and the gentle grace of Jiangnan water towns, captivating the audience.
The highlight of the concert was piece May We All Be Blessed with Longevity (arranged by Su Hanxuan), a modern adaptation of Su Shi’s timeless ci-poem. This piece artfully merged the Mid-Autumn sentiment of “sharing the beautiful moon across a thousand miles” with the National Day theme of “family and nation reunification”. The Danish Chinese Hanfu Association added a poetic finale with a recitation of Su Shi’s Prelude to Water Melody – How rare the moon, so round and clear.
The second part of today’s event offered an immersive cultural experience, featuring hands-on workshops such as Tang hulu (Candied hawthorns skewers) making, mochi crafting (Glutinous rice cakes), and Mid-Autumn mooncake preparation. There were also demonstrations of Song-style tea whisking, along with tastings of traditional Chinese cuisine and specially curated Chinese-inspired cocktails. These activities engaged the guests’ senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch, deepening their understanding of Chinese festival culture and culinary traditions through interactive participation.
As Chinese stories reach global audiences in increasingly diverse forms, the harmony of Chinese and Western music, and the fusion of tradition and modernity, exemplify the most touching dialogue between civilizations. In this new era, when different cultures embrace mutual respect and appreciation, they will undoubtedly bloom with even more dazzling brilliance.
