On July 23rd, due to the sudden epidemic breakout in Chongqing, as well as scorching temperatures and power shortages, our two shows scheduled in Chongqing had to be cancelled last minute. On July 26th, the team of InterCulture and the band West-Eastern Divan, altogether 11 people, flew directly from Guangzhou to Chengdu. Now go on the tour with us.
InterCulture x West-Eastern Divan
Summer Concert of the Consulate General of Germany in Chengdu
At noon, the band checked in at the InterContinental Residences Chengdu City Center. The summer reception of the German Consulate General was held on the large terrace of the InterContinental Hotel. With a high glass canopy hanging from the top and a LED screen with dynamic landscape paintings in the background of the stage, the whole space gave an ethereal and solemn feeling.
Before the concert, Wolfgang Rudischhauser, the outgoing Consul General of Germany in Chengdu, delivered his farewell speech. He recalled in a video the important activities and events of his three-year tenure, full of memories and nostalgia.
When the night fell, the heat of the day faded away, and in the summer breeze the West-Eastern Divan performed a music journey between Chinese folk music and western jazz, mingling in improvisation and fusion. Whether it was the Cantonese folk music "Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon", or Bach's "Bouree", or "Roll over Beethoven", each piece was newly adapted and arranged by the band, leaving the audience in amazement.
InterCulture x West-Eastern Divan
Live Show in Riverside Jazz Club
Riverside Jazz Club is a three-story music space located in Lan Kwai Fong, Chengdu. Well-known Chinese jazz musicians such as Jianyi HUANG, Lawrence KU, Abu and Sedar CHIN have performed here.
When the band arrived at 9pm on the 27th, the club was already full.
Singer Chanel, in a white dress, her magnetic voice immediately caught the ears of the audience.
Ilana's bamboo flute playing was clear and melodious, like a flying bird breaking through the clouds.
The low and gentle oriental sounds of the Erhu interestingly contrasted with the minimalist contemporary fashion of Issey Miyake worn by Daniel.
Lukasz Lagocki, the virtuoso pianist, playing with extreme flexibility, which sounded as a Chinese idiom describes "like pearls dropping on a jade platter".
Drummer Richard played agilely, with every drum beat just right.
The "swinging diplomat" Martin Fleischer is the soul of the band, impressing the audience with emoathic double bass playing as well as his witty and humorous talk, and finally with singing a Rock'n Roll classic.
As a special local guest, Israeli saxophonist Elad Sobol came on the stage and jammed with the band, adding an emotional warmth to jazz standards by Chanel with her smoky alto voice.
Audience Feedback
- The band incorporates characteristics of the Erhu and bamboo flute into Western music, takes famous Chinese songs and adapts them with western harmonies, making the presentation of the repertoire refreshing and exciting.
- I love this fusion of Chinese folk music and western jazz. Music has no boundaries.
- The music of the East and the West can be transplanted and played in such a harmonious way. The venue and the atmosphere of the show perfectly complemented this innovative music.
InterCulture Review
West-Eastern Divan is about the interaction and dialogue between the western and eastern music and musical instruments. InterCulture initiated the band as a platform to employ music and performance as a medium for cultural exchange. We want to bring together outstanding Chinese and Western musicians and other performing artists, combining traditional Chinese music, opera and dance with western classical and jazz music, contemporary dance, to spark mutual inspiration and joint innovation among different styles of music and performances.
This West-Eastern Divan Concert Tour is supported by the Consulate General of Germany in Chengdu, sponsored by SIEMENS, SinoSwiss Technopark (SSTP), Paulmann, OJESH, BMW Chengdu Jintai; with InterContinental Residences Chengdu City Center, and Riverside Jazz Club Chengdu as venue supporters.
This West-Eastern Divan Concert Tour is supported by the Consulate General of Germany in Chengdu, sponsored by SIEMENS, SinoSwiss Technopark (SSTP), Paulmann, OJESH, BMW Chengdu Jintai; with InterContinental Residences Chengdu City Center, and Riverside Jazz Club Chengdu as venue supporters.
