"summer night breeze" concert at unesco multicultural festival in paris
On the evening of May 20, the melodious notes of the “Summer Night Breeze” World Peace Charity Concert resonated throughout the Église Notre-Dame des Blancs Manteaux in the 4th Arrondissement of Paris.
As a key part of the 16th Cultural Diversity Festival, the concert was organized by UNESCO and the Cultural Committee of the 1st Arrondissement of Paris, and co-hosted by institutions including the French International Association of Harmony and the Franco-Chinese Association for the Development of Classical Music.
Distinguished attendees included Carla Carigoni (Chairperson of the Cultural Committee of the 1st Arrondissement of Paris), pianist Zhou Qinling (recipient of the UNESCO Mozart Medal), event organizer, baritone, and opera director Shi Heng, along with his mentor Peggy Bouveret, renowned pianist Germaine Tocatlian, pianist Christine Fonlupt, and erhu virtuoso Guo Gan.
During the concert, bass-baritone Jia Yiran, French mezzo-soprano Astrid Dupuis, soprano Songha Lee, and baritone Shi Heng performed classic opera arias to warm applause. Three young pianists performed works by Zhou Qinling, including “Mona Lisa’s Smile,” on a Kayserburg grand piano. The performance blended musical traditions from Russia, France, China, South Korea, and Quebec.
Carla Carigoni spoke highly of the concert, praising its successful fusion of multicultural elements. Zhou Qinling noted that the concert stayed true to the theme of world peace, showcasing how young artists from China and France work together to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding through music.
