On January 11, 2025 Happy Spring Festival Concert, the first New Year Concert of the China National Opera House in Europe, was successfully held in Brussels. The concert was attended by over 400 opera fans including Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Fei Shengchao, EU officials, diplomats, representatives from Belgian political, business, cultural, educational sectors, and Chinese compatriots in Belgium.

Ambassador Fei noted in his speech that the Spring Festival, as one of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is not only the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation, but also a window for the world to understand Chinese culture. This concert served as a bridge of friendship between China, Belgium, and Europe through the art of music, injecting new vitality into bilateral and multilateral relations.

Artists from the China National Opera House presented a rich repertoire, including Western classics such as O Sole Mio and excerpts from Carmen, as well as Chinese pieces like Pastoral and My affection awaits you. The performance culminated with the ensemble renditions of Libiamo ne’ lieti calici.

This concert marked the first celebration of the 2025 Spring Festival series in Belgium, which also kicked off the celebrations for the 54th anniversary of China-Belgium diplomatic relations and the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties.