Music Talks

Although diagnosed with polio, Zhang Qian accomplishes her dream in music when she performed at the warm-up show before the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics. We'll get up close with Zhang's unique experience at the ceremony and her ensemble, which is mainly made up of musicians with disabilities.

Zhao Xin is a talented blind composer and music producer who overcame a myriad of obstacles to pursue his musical career. We'll share Zhao's works, including the latest song composed for Beijing 2022, and get a glimpse of his journey to be a musician.

The Winter Olympics were first held in 1924. So far, 13 countries have hosted the Games. In this edition, we'll bring you seven notable melodies, which are not only pleasing to the ear, but also are representative of a host city, such as "Jambalaya" from the United States, "Santa Lucia" from Italy, and "Kalinka" from Russia. The versions we play will be slightly different from the original ones, as they are performed by members of the prestigious Beijing Chinese Orchestra using traditional Chinese instruments. It's hoped that our music is able to take our listeners on a trip to get a glimpse of some of the countries.

The official motto of Beijing 2022 is "Together for a Shared Future," which highlights the necessity for humankind to work together towards a better future. In this edition, we bring you uplifting Olympic-themed songs that reflect the motto and the strength of athletes.

With the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics now well underway, we will continue to bring you upbeat songs that are able to give you an overall perspective of the sporting event by reflecting on the invaluable contribution of the volunteers, the unique designs and the sustainability of the Games.

The opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will kick off in China on Feb. 4th. We not only will be able to feel the Olympic spirits by watching the competitions, but we can also celebrate its symbolism by exploring some of the music that is inspired by the grand sporting events. Today, we’ll bring you the latest Olympics-themed songs that are no less upbeat than what you might hear on the pop charts. Most importantly, musicians will share with us the stories behind the scene.

If you want to step back from the hustle and bustle of urban life and enjoy a moment of peace, we'll take you on a musical journey to explore the eight historical natural sceneries of Beijing. The China Chinese Orchestra has released a large-scale of orchestral suite, which depicts these picturesque spots. We'll also get an insight of the historical antidotes and cultural traditions behind the scene.

The Central Axis of Beijing, a cluster of ancient buildings and cultural sites, is the core area of the old city that stretches 7.8 kilometers, from Yongding Gate in the south to the Bell Tower and Drum Tower in the north. Today, we take you on a journey to explore the ancient city through the local musical scene along the axis.

Many local Beijingers say the sound of the three-stringed lute is a nostalgic sound for them that has the magical power to remind them of the old Beijing of the 80s and 90s. The famed sanxian performer Wang Yu, a Beijing native, shares with us why the sound of the lute is symbolic of the ancient city, and brings several of his distinctive works that reflect the street scenes of Beijing in his memory.

Previously, we got up-close with Jazz musician Liu Peiyi, and he shared his 10-year experience of learning Jazz with a couple of world-renowned masters in the States, as well as his understanding of jazz music and his ways to promote the popularity of the genre among the public. In this edition, we continue with Liu. He brings us several innovative works incorporating elements of popular Chinese folk songs.