Italian pianist Massimo Giuseppe Bianchi performs in Tianjin. [Photo/Jinyun App]

An evening of Chinese and Italian music filled Tianjin's century-old Yungui Guild Hall on Oct 8, as renowned Italian pianist Massimo Giuseppe Bianchi joined Chinese musicians in a cultural exchange concert celebrating the friendship between the two countries.

The event featured works by Western classical masters including Bach, Busoni, Brahms, and Schubert, alongside the beloved Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower.

One highlight was a four-hand piano performance of Jasmine Flower by Bianchi and Chen Lin, a professor at the Tianjin Conservatory of Music. Bianchi described the piece as a heartfelt tribute to Chinese audiences.

The concert also featured excerpts from Turandot, an opera by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini which is set in China. Performers included Tianjin Conservatory of Music professor Zhang Xiqiu and associate professor Fei Qifang, with young pianist Zhang Xi serving as piano accompanist.

For Bianchi, the historic venue added another dimension to the experience. Its acoustics enriched the music, while its traditional Chinese architecture created an immersive atmosphere for performers and audiences alike.

The event was jointly organized by Tianjin East High School of Arts and the Tianjin Conservatory of Music, with support from the Italian Embassy in China and its cultural office, further strengthening cultural and educational exchanges between China and Italy.