Media
Since the launch of the concert, I have received widespread attention and enthusiastic coverage from major media outlets. The reports have explored various aspects of the Guzheng concert, including artist features, concert highlights, audience reactions, and the cultural significance of traditional music in today’s society.
I sincerely thank all members of the media for their support of traditional arts and welcome continued interest in the timeless beauty of Guzheng music.
Below is a selection of featured reports and links for your reference and review.
05.02.2025
'In the concert of the duo Lydia Maria Bader and Katerina Luo, eastern and western sounds united in perfect beauty.'
“For me it was an evening full of grace,” said one concert-goer at the end, and that is probably how everyone felt on Sunday evening in the Knights’ Hall at this concert with piano and guzheng, the Chinese arched zither.
......
Meanwhile, Katerina Luo had arrived and was leisurely setting up her guzheng, a zither with 21 steel strings plucked with picks. In a thrilling interplay, the instruments told a love story with their diverse sounds, with the steely yet tender and intimate whirring of the strings reminiscent of the domra, the Russian "mother of the balalaika."
With "Fisherman's Song in the Evening Sun," Lua transported us to the beauty of nature, the mountains, and the water—a multi-layered composition with striking individual notes and fluttering, quietly fading sounds.
29.03.2023
'In the concert of the duo Lydia Maria Bader and Katerina Luo, eastern and western sounds united in perfect beauty.'
“For me it was an evening full of grace,” said one concert-goer at the end, and that is probably how everyone felt on Sunday evening in the Knights’ Hall at this concert with piano and guzheng, the Chinese arched zither.
......
Meanwhile, Katerina Luo had arrived and was leisurely setting up her guzheng, a zither with 21 steel strings plucked with picks. In a thrilling interplay, the instruments told a love story with their diverse sounds, with the steely yet tender and intimate whirring of the strings reminiscent of the domra, the Russian "mother of the balalaika."
With "Fisherman's Song in the Evening Sun," Lua transported us to the beauty of nature, the mountains, and the water—a multi-layered composition with striking individual notes and fluttering, quietly fading sounds.
22.02.2024
Chinese new years concert
“As the performance segment began, the concert featured a carefully curated program of iconic Chinese folk and classical pieces, including Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon, Liuyang River, In That Faraway Place, and the beloved Butterfly Lovers. Musicians Lydia Maria Bader and Katerina Zhiyuan Luo brought these timeless melodies to life with their exquisite technique and profound musicality, evoking a passionate response from the audience.
What made the evening particularly special was the artists’ thoughtful introduction to each piece. Before each performance, they shared with the audience the cultural background and unique characteristics of the Chinese compositions, offering a deeper appreciation for the music.
Guzheng musician Katerina Zhiyuan Luo began her musical journey at an early age. Since 2018, she has been living and studying in Leipzig, regularly performing across Germany and earning numerous awards. She has long been dedicated to blending Guzheng and traditional Chinese music with instruments from other cultures and Western classical traditions, creating a distinct and innovative musical voice. Her performances of Spring Comes to Xiang River and Drumming on Fragrant Hills were especially captivating, showcasing the expressive power of the Guzheng and drawing waves of prolonged applause.
To conclude the evening, Mrs.Bader and Luo performed a duet of the famous Chinese composition Butterfly Lovers. Before the performance, they explained the piece’s origins—an enduring love story in Chinese folklore about a young couple who defy feudal constraints and ultimately transcend death, transforming into butterflies. The story, they noted, is often regarded as the Chinese counterpart to Romeo and Juliet, capturing universal themes of love, sacrifice, and transformation."
01.09.2022
“Guzheng performer Katerina Zhiyuan Luo， who is currently pursuing advanced studies at Leipzig University in Germany, delivered a captivating rendition of Dance of the Yao People. Through her masterful technique, the guzheng’s wide tonal range, and its rich, resonant timbre, she vividly portrayed the joyful scenes of the Yao ethnic community singing and dancing in celebration.
Her performance of Tea-Picking Dance, a traditional folk melody from Zhejiang Province, was equally enchanting. The piece’s graceful and flowing melody reflected the lively spirit and youthful vitality of young women joyfully engaged in tea planting and harvesting.”
09.04.2023
“One of the greatest highlights of the concert was the collaboration between two young artists from different countries and cultural backgrounds. The performance opened with Pachelbel’s iconic Canon in D, in which the duo’s exquisite technique brought to life the poetic elegance of this Baroque masterpiece. This was followed by a rendition of Bach’s Sheep May Safely Graze, painting a serene and joyful pastoral scene through delicate harmonies. After the intermission, the hauntingly beautiful theme from the Chinese animated film Big Fish & Begonia captivated the audience with its lyrical charm. The concert culminated in a powerful duet performance of Butterfly Lovers, bringing the evening to an unforgettable climax.
……
Luo Zhiyuan, one of the performers, is a distinguished Chinese traditional instrumentalist who began studying the guzheng at an early age. She has won numerous awards in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Since 2018, she has been living and studying in Leipzig, Germany, where she is a regular performer in concerts across the country. In Ingolstadt, she not only played her beloved instrument with great passion, but also introduced the guzheng—an instrument with a history of over 2,000 years—to the audience in fluent German.
As a unique art form, both Eastern and Western music possess rich traditions and diverse modes of expression. This concert masterfully blended the essence of both cultures, showcasing the transcendent power of music to bridge cultural boundaries and offering the audience a vivid and moving musical tapestry.”