Beijing singers headline London olympics rehearsals

LONDON – December 1,2011Rehearsals for London 2012 Olympic ceremonies continue at a secret location in East London, but two of the stars of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Ceremonies have been playing London's Royal Albert Hall .

Singer Tan Jing became the first Chinese singer to headline there. In 2008 she had sung at the Beijing ceremonies and also carried the Olympic Flame. Here, she reprised the songs she'd performed at the Games in 2008 including "Sky" sung, during the symbolic representation of the release of doves.
"I am happy to bring Beijing's message to London. It is a dream for me to be here." She said.
Composer and Pianist Robert Wells knows what it means to have the intense media scrutiny at an Olympics. He had performed a concert at Tiananmen Square and spent four months writing music for Beijing 2008, and taken part and offered some advice to those working on London's ceremonies behind closed doors in East London.
"I don't think you should look over your shoulder. You should do your thing." he said.
"In Beijing, they played my music at every event.It was very exciting but I have been to a lot of sport and it is fun. It is easy when you have something to write for."he said.
" It doesn't have to be like what they did.The 2008 Opening Ceremony was the best I have ever seen. They really did great," he said."When the sportsmen get together, they have fun and let the music be fun too," he says.
"It doesn't have to be too serious, it should be up tempo but it should be fun. Let the music be fun."
The "Together Again" Concert was not the first time that Olympic performers been on stage at the Albert Hall. Back in 1948 the legendary composer Sir Malcolm Sargent conducted a classical concert for the members of the IOC during the 1948 Games.
This concert proved very different with a mix of classical favourites, rock and roll and boogie woogie . Erhuist Chen Jun and Pipaist Liu Kie delighted the audience with performances on traditional instruments which brought back further memories of that magical night in Beijing.
The concert will be transmitted throughout China on CCTV later in the year.

(Source: AIPS)