The Chinese Youth Choir Concert was successfully held on the evening of September 26,2019 at Amalie Skram videregående skole as one of the Confucius Institute week activities hosted by the Confucius Institute in Bergen, to celebrate the 65^thanniversary of China-Norway diplomatic relations and the 70^thanniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Mr. Li Juqian, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute in Bergen delivered the opening speech for the gala, welcoming all the members from afar and the audience to join the celebration in Bergen.

Shanghai Youth Choir is an art troupe representing the highest chorus level of teenagers in Shanghai. They have participated in numerous performances and competitions including the Ninth “Singing World” international chorus competition, one of the six international chorus competitions in the world and won many honors since its establishment in 2012. It aims to building an excellent young student art troupe with exemplary leading role and enjoys extensive influence and popularity at home and abroad.

Valentin Sweeney and Xie Congyu from Grieg Institute of University of Bergen opened the evening by the flute performanceMy Motherland.Then the children of Shanghai Youth Choir sang many distinctive domestic and foreign excellent repertoire like Guess the Tune,When Do the Hops Bloomand Mit Schweinen und Enten. They presented the great motherland’s 70^thbirthday with their melodious songs and won bursts of applause.

It’s worth mentioning that the choir also brought a song from Norway. The Wedding Day at Troldhougenwas specially prepared for the 65^thanniversary of China-Norway diplomatic relations composed by the famous Norwegian composer Edward Grieg.

Mr. Geir Nordal- Pederse, the teaching consultant of the Confucius Institute in Bergen delivered a closing speech after the performance. He sent greeting and thanks to the Shanghai Youth Choir on behalf of the Confucius Institute in Bergen, issued certificates for the students and took a group photo.

This performance was held shortly after the students of the choir arrived in Bergen, but they still gave us a wonderful performance with full spirit and youthful enthusiasm. The repertoire includes both Chinese folk songs and classical songs from the west, offering the most sincere wishes for the 70^thanniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the relationship between China and Norway.

Confucius Institute in Bergen plays the role of culture bridge between China and Norway all the time. This time we show the Norwegian people acting with national characteristics through the form of concerts, helping the Norwegian side to understand Chinese art and culture from multiple perspectives.