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The 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival opened to a full house of over 5,000 enthusiastic audience members, with over 2.5 million online views during the live broadcasting. The event featured the world premiere of “Sound River,” a monumental musical and visual ‘meta journey’ by globally renowned composer and conductor Tan Dun. This symphonic poem for 16 films represents the culmination of Tan’s 12-year archive of audio and visual recordings from the Silk Road, Central Asia, and the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Tan, Hong Kong’s Ambassador for Cultural Promotion, describes the work as a sound map tracing human civilisation’s development. The performance, blending harmony and discord, engaged the audience’s visual and auditory senses in a harmonious artistic journey.

The well-received musical extravaganza was performed by the newly formed GBA Culture and Arts Festival Orchestra, comprising members from the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Guangzhou Symphony, Shenzhen Symphony, and Macao Orchestras. Under Tan’s baton, the musicians transcended cultural differences, delivering a spectacular performance. The event featured renowned Mainland singers Zhou Shen and Wuyuntana, with Zhou Shen delivering the theme song, adding to the event’s greatness.

The concert’s success, evidenced by the packed venue and audience’s warm reception, underscores the festival’s significance in promoting cultural exchange within the GBA.

Presented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Government of the Hong Kong SAR, the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, and the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the festival is in its fourth edition.