Photo by Li Muzi

In order to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the victory of the world anti-fascist war, China Shanghai International Arts Festival deputed the theme concert to Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in the United Nations headquarters on the evening of Aug 28. The concert aimed to cast in stark relief China’s role as the Eastern main battlefield of World War II, featuring the heroic feats of hundreds of millions of soldiers and civilians and their contributions and historical status to the victory of the world anti-fascist war.

This theme concert invites several artists from five Allies including China, Britain, America, Russia and France to perform music pieces themed by fighting against the war, hoping for peace and pursuing happiness. The opening track is Shanghai 1937 created by Zou Ye while the last piece is Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia performed by famous artists from the five Allies.