East–West concert honors war's victims

The theme song Long Way from Home, from the documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, was performed by a female vocal solo accompanied by an ensemble. The documentary recounts the real-life event of Chinese fishermen who braved Japanese gunfire and risked their lives to rescue British prisoners of war during World War II.

As the lyrics — "You are all someone's father. You are all someone's son. We call your names with pride, alone" — reverberated through the hall, they gave voice to a mother's cry for her son, a child's for their father, and a universal plea for peace that transcends borders and cultures.

Notably, the solo piano rendition of Bound by the Same Shore, accompanied by a symphony orchestra, had its overseas premiere at the event. Wang Yuzhe, founder and artistic director of New Elements Music, said the piece, in particular, conveys the younger generation's call for peace and unity.

"As a youth-led organization, our work, from our international festivals to our support for young musicians, is driven by a shared aspiration for peace and mutual understanding. This is not just a concept; it is the very reason we exist," said Wang.

"We hope to bring forth new voices, new talents, and new music," he added.

Frances Wood, a British historian and former head of Chinese collections at the British Library, and Zoe Reed, chair emerita of the Society for Anglo?Chinese Understanding, echoed the view that music is a powerful language that unites people and called for more to be done to commemorate the war victims, confront its brutality, uphold the value of peace, and preserve shared East–West memories, with China and the UK standing together against darkness.

The event was supported by the Chinese embassy in the UK, Bank of China London Branch, and Hunan Province Performing Arts Group.