Pipa π Chamber Ensemble Tours Australia and New Zealand

Pipa π Chamber Ensemble Tours Australia and New Zealand

In May 2026, the “Dialogue · Bosom Friends” Xian Ge Ya Yun concert series brought the Pipa π Chamber Ensemble to Australia and New Zealand. The pipa is the traditional Chinese lute, and the ensemble is drawn from the China Conservatory of Music. The tour was organized by the China Center for International Cultural and Tourism Exchange together with the China Cultural Centers in Sydney and Wellington.

Sydney: Pipa Meets Western Classics

On May 6, the ensemble performed at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney before more than 350 guests, including Chinese Consul General in Sydney Wang Yu, officials of the Australia-China Friendship Society (NSW branch) and leaders of the local arts community. In a highlight of the evening, the musicians joined a guest Australian performer for “Botany Bay,” a beloved local folk song, blending the crisp, agile tones of the pipa with a Western classic. Several Australian audience members described the concert as an unforgettable meeting of tradition and cross-cultural experiment that deepened their understanding of Chinese culture.

Wellington: A Sister-City Anniversary Concert

On May 8, the ensemble celebrated the 20th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Beijing and Wellington with a concert at the National Museum of New Zealand. Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong, Beijing municipal government Secretary-General Zeng Jin, Wellington’s deputy mayor and around 350 other guests attended. Professor Ge Yong of the China Conservatory of Music led performances of traditional masterpieces including “Ambush from All Sides” and “Deep Night,” which shared the stage with Māori music presented by New Zealand artists — a dialogue between two great performance traditions.

Music Beyond Borders

Beyond the concerts, the tour included flash performances and workshops, giving Australian and New Zealand audiences close-up encounters with a range of traditional Chinese instruments. The program showed how music can travel across borders and foster mutual appreciation, adding a lyrical chapter to the friendship between China, Australia and New Zealand.

Source: https://www.badouart.com/27572.html