Published: 09:57, September 23, 2024
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Concert ushers in regional joy
By William Xu in Hong Kong

Musicians, celebrities and Olympic heroes gather in Macao to honor GBA cultural heritage

Renowned performers and celebrated athletes greet the audience, sparking a wave of cheers and sing-alongs at the Greater Bay Area Film Concert on Sept 22, 2024. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

More than 100 prominent Chinese and overseas musicians and celebrities gathered in Macao’s largest indoor venue, Galaxy Arena, on Sunday evening for the Greater Bay Area Film Concert 2024.

Co-organized by China Central Television, the Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Bauhinia Cultural Group and Phoenix TV, the event showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

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It also celebrated multiple significant occasions: the autumnal equinox, or qiufen; the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China; and the 25th anniversary of the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Table tennis Olympic champion Fan Zhendong (second from right) joins the star-studded host team for a talk segment in between shows.  (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Young vocal talents from Macao, Hong Kong, and the Chinese mainland, alongside local students and dan cers, perform Hello, Greater Bay. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The show comprised five distinct chapters, offering a mix of popular and classic songs — many of which are beloved theme songs from well-known films and television series — choral performances, piano recitals, and a recitation. The grand finale brought together students and children from across the region for a moving chorus.

The star-studded lineup included renowned artists such as Jackie Chan, Hacken Lee, Karen Mok Man-wai, Wang Leehom, and Richard Marx.

Adding to the glamour, several mainland athletes who excelled at the 2024 Paris Olympics took to the stage, including table tennis medalist Fan Zhendong, diving champion Quan Hongchan, and twin synchronized swimmers Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi, who won the nation’s first-ever Olympic duet gold medal in artistic swimming.

American singer-songwriter Richard Marx delights the Chinese audience with a heartfelt performance of his global hit Right Here Waiting. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Chinese multi-instrumentalist Fang Jinlong plays the pipa for Yungong Xunyin (Cloud Palace Sounds), the theme song of the beloved 1986 TV drama Journey to the West. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Film star Jackie Chan delivers a thrilling drum dance performance during the Greater Bay Area Film Concert on Sept 22, 2024. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The athletes and hosts also used the platform to promote the upcoming 15th National Games, scheduled to be held in the GBA in November 2025, encouraging national support and participation.

Hosting duties were shared by veteran Hong Kong actress and television personality Elizabeth Wang Ming-chuen and mainland actor Zhang Yi, along with Alec Su You-peng, Lan Yu, Liu Naiqi and Tian Chuan.

ALSO READ: GBA festival to showcase diverse culture, arts in region

By midnight, the concert had generated significant buzz on social media, with its Weibo hashtag amassing 4.23 billion views and 18 million posts.

This marks the third installment of the GBA Film Concert series, following successful events in Shenzhen in 2021 and Hong Kong last year. Each concert has embraced the Mid-Autumn Festival theme, celebrating traditional culture while showcasing the achievements of the 11-city cluster.

Taiwanese singer and livestream fitness coach Will Liu Genghong (center) leads the audience in a dynamic music-infused exercise session.   (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Legendary singer Frances Yip Lai-yee graces the stage with her classic hit The Bund, amid a sea of glowing wristbands and flashing lights.(PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

williamxu@chinadailyhk.com