Meet Greece Music Journey: A Unique Culture Exchange Between the Two Ancient Civilizations

“2018 Meet Greece Music Journey” started its fourth-year project since 26th September this year, as the annual project of Meet Culture, a leading culture organization which has been focusing on the culture exchange between Greece and China.

A cultural group from China consisting of the two famous Chinese musicians Chang Jing and Zhang Di and the well-known travel blogger and producer Miao Bin, is embarking on a unique cultural journey in Greece, who will travel to Athens, Crete, Nafplio and Epidaurus to explore the ancient beauty of Greece through music and culture.

The “Meet Greece Music Journey” is aiming at deepening the mutual understanding between Greece and China through the means of travel, art and music. Being the fourth year of this project, “2018 Meet Greece Music Journey” is honored to invite the virtuoso Chinese musician Chang Jing, who is also the cultural ambassador between China and Greece and solo performer of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, together with Chinese flute master Zhang Di.

During their journey in Greece, they will have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves with genuine Greek culture and art through various events and exchanges.

In Athens, they are honored to be invited by Ms Marina Kotsamani, the Associate Professor from University of Peloponnese, to participate in Cultural Capital of Books 2018 in Athens and visit the exhibition of Heinrich Schleimann and Antonis in Gennadius Library. They are also invited by the Vice Mayor of Athens to visit the city hall, to get to know better about the city.

Moreover, they will participate in an ancient Greek music workshop by the Ancient Greek Lyre musician Aliki Markantonadou, singer Athena Chioti and the flute musician Pan Kaperneka, which will give them the deeper insight on the Greek music. They will also have an Ancient Greek Instrument Workshop by the well-known Greek instrument maker Nikolaos Bras. As the international supporter of Hermes project in University of Athens, the group will visit the project to share the achievements. They will also watch an ancient Greek drama “Persian” to get their precious experience.

In Crete, they will have the opportunity to meet Cretan Lyre master Ross Daly in Houdetsi, and organize a concert “China Meets Crete” for the Chinese musicians and Ross Daly at Basilica of Saint Mark in Heraklion, which is supported by the Municipality of Heraklion. They will also visit Knossos to learn more about the Minoan civilizaiton.

In Nafplio, they will collaborate with the Department of Theatre Studies of University of Peloponnese to organize a cultural event named “When Chinese Music Meets Greek Theatre”. Furthermore, they will also visit ancient Mycenae and the theater of Epidaurus accompanied by the professors.

Since 2014, Meet Culture has successfully done quite many cultural exchange projects between the two civilizations, and the annual project “Meet Greece Music Journey” has combined music and tourism to create a new efficient model. As we know, Greece still remains mysterious for most of the Chinese people, who should learn more about the ancient civilization in the West.

The Music Journey has been proven on the significant influence on the facilitating the mutual understanding between the people in both countries, and more projects and ideas have been generated from the Music Journeys. More and more Greek and Chinese partners have joined in the Music Journey organized by Meet Culture.