“I was very much touched by the children from Vienna and also from Chengdu performing together. I think this is something the world is needing right now—young people are working together, are singing together, and are trying to understand each other.” This was the sentiment shared by Erich Arthold, President of the Vienna Boys’ Choir of Austria, at Chengdu City Concert Hall on the evening of April 16.

 

 

That evening, the 2026 Chengdu Europe Culture Season officially kicked off as the angelic and clear voices of the Vienna Girls Choir, an Austrian national treasure, echoed through the venue.

 

 

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria. Austria was invited as the guest country of honor for the 2026 Chengdu Europe Culture Season. The Vienna Girls Choir chose Chengdu as the first stop of its China tour for its first performance outside Europe.

 

 

During the performance that evening, the Vienna Girls Choir joined hands with Chengdu City Concert Hall Youth Chorus to present “Edelweiss”, a song symbolizing Austria, and the Chinese folk song “Jasmine Flower”.

 

 

Aresu, a member of the Vienna Girls Choir, said, “We love Chengdu, and we are happy to perform here. The reaction was really nice, just like in Vienna.”

 

Stefan Foidl, Conductor of the Vienna Girls Choir, remarked, “Chengdu has the largest conservatory of music in China. I think it is a capital of music within China.”

 

On the evening of April 17, “Hello” Chengdu Concert, an art extravaganza hosted by Chengdu City Concert Hall, concluded on a high note amid children’s bright voices. The cross-border art event marked the successful end of the opening stop on the Vienna Girls Choir’s first China tour.

 

During their performance, members of the Vienna Girls Choir delivered heartfelt renditions of “Little Bliss”, “Jasmine Flower”, and other songs in Chinese.

 

The concert reached its highlight in the finale, when members of Chengdu City Concert Hall Youth Chorus joined the Vienna Girls Choir on stage to perform “Edelweiss” and “Contentment”, bringing the heartwarming and friendly atmosphere to its peak.

 

 

The widely acclaimed international concert brought together young people from China and Austria to celebrate the friendship transcending distance through the bond of music, adding a warm and splendid chapter to Chengdu’s development as an international City of Music.

 

Edited by Zhang Yuanlin

Source: Home in Chengdu