ISLAMABAD: Wednesday evening at the National Art Gallery was spectacle of music and theatrical performances celebrating Pakistan Day.

The day also marked 65 years of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, and artists from both countries came together to commemorate the relationship.

The Beijing Shanshui Orchestra was the first to take the stage, where they performed compositions by the 15-person art troupe in a traditional musical style.

The troupe’s performance highlighted the sensuality of their music, with its high spirited arrangement and spectacular harmonies.

The Beijing Shanshui Orchestra is the only troupe consisting of challenged musicians to surmount instrumental and vocal performances in China, and the only group of artists that has won three gold medals and one silver medal at national instrumental competitions for challenged individuals in recent years.

The troupe won the audience over right at the beginning of their performance with their renditions of Jeevay Pakistan and Dil Dil Pakistan. The rest of their compositions were celebrations of the crescent before dawn, flowers, prosperity and sport.

Following the orchestra, Pakistani musicians took the stage to perform national songs like Khayal Rakhan and Ye Watan Tumhara Hai. Saira Naseem, Fazal Jutt and Nadeem Abbasi were among the performers.

The expertise of the National Performing Arts Group (NPAG) artists, coupled with their natural and stylistically confident and charming ‘Fisherman’ and ‘Spring’ dance performances immersed the spellbound audience into geographically and chronologically alien words and created an uplifting experience.

A theatrical performance followed, which emphasises national unity and devotion to make Pakistan a prosperous country.

Outside, in the gardens of the National Art Gallery, visitors were drawn to various stalls exhibiting traditional handicrafts, as national songs played in the background.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2016