The end of the year is the best time for the Chinese people to wear traditional Tang costumes, eating sugar coated fruits on sticks , to hang Chinese knots, which all make the atmosphere full of the New Year spirit. In addition, a series of Chinese national music performances in the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) will definitely add more Chinese flavor to the New Year.

In the on-going first international performance season of NCPA, Chinese national music makes up a great part of the repertoire, in the aim of promoting Chinese national music.

Staring from February to the end of March, Chinese National Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Shanghai National Music Orchestra and other famous orchestras will bring their best works to NCPA.

Here is Li Zhixiang, principal of the performance department of NCPA.

"We hope to tell people that national Chinese music has made great development. From the schedule, we can find that some pieces are classical works; some are combinations with western music. We hope that through viewing the performances, more people will fall in love with Chinese national music and Chinese traditional arts."

February 1, 2: Spring Festival Concert by Chinese National Orchestra
February 16: Jubilant Chinese New Year by Shanghai Chinese Orchestra
February 17: Splendid China by Shanghai Chinese Orchestra
February 20: "Blooming Flowers and Full Moon" Lantern Festival Concert by China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra
March 22: The New Millennium of Hua Xia by Huaxia Chinese Orchestra

(CRI January 29, 2008)