'Resonance of Dunhuang' concert in Ottawa, Canada

As the final notes faded, Resonance of Dunhuang , presented by the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble, concluded successfully at Algonquin Commons Theatre in Ottawa on the evening of October 10.

The Ottawa concert was an important stop on the ensemble's 2026 Canadian tour, which marked its North American debut.

Drawing inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of Dunhuang’s Mogao Caves, the production combined music with visual art to explore contemporary expressions of ancient Silk Road civilization while promoting understanding and exchange among different cultures.

Presented at the invitation of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada, the tour received strong support from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Dunhuang Academy and the Chan Chong Charitable Foundation.

As an artistic exchange event celebrating the 56th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Canada, it offered Canadian audiences an immersive audiovisual journey spanning more than a millennium.

The concert was warmly received, with enthusiastic applause throughout the evening.

Guests in attendance included Chinese Ambassador to Canada Wang Di; former Canadian senator Victor Oh; Wang Guobiao, director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto; Zhao Shengliang, former director of the Dunhuang Academy; and Leonie Ki, founder and executive director of the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble.

Bringing the sounds of Dunhuang from murals to music Dunhuang was at a crossroads of civilizations along the ancient Silk Road.

The flying apsaras, musical instruments and vibrant scenes of music and dance depicted in the Mogao Cave murals not only document the artistic life of ancient society, but also bear witness to the exchange and integration of different civilizations along the Silk Road.

Resonance of Dunhuang grew out of this distinctive artistic vision.

Guided by the principles of “inheritance, preservation and innovation,” eight accomplished young Chinese instrumentalists from Hong Kong used reconstructed ancient instruments to reimagine 1,600 years of Silk Road culture preserved in the Mogao Caves.

Through contemporary compositions, the musicians gave new life to melodies lost to history.

A defining feature of the performance was its integration of sound and imagery.

Traditional Chinese music was combined with animated multimedia visuals inspired by the Dunhuang murals, immersing audiences in the magnificent world of the Mogao Caves and allowing them to experience the interaction of Eastern and Western cultures through Silk Road art.