VISITING MONGOLIAN PERFORMERS AT BRISBANE’S CULTURAL CENTRE

An internationally acclaimed arts troupe capturing the spirit of Inner Mongolia dating back to the time of Genghis Khan will be a highlight of Brisbane’s Chinese New Year celebrations.

Arts Minister Rod Welford said visiting troupe stars the top musicians and artists from one of the largest performing companies in China, the Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Theatre Company.

“Queenslanders can join the 2007 Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations and enjoy this uplifting performance by one of China’s renowned performing arts companies,” Mr Welford said.

“This is a rare opportunity for Queenslanders to experience art forms highly unique to Mongolia’s cultural heritage.”

The lavish Mongolian Moods – Pastoral Music and Dance, will be staged at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s Lyric Theatre next Tuesday (13 February) at 7.30pm.

The performance showcases unique Mongolian performing arts such as a special throat singing technique – a combination of the human voice and a wind instrument played simultaneously by a single musician, passed on for over 800 years.

It also features traditional instruments and colourful costumes and the songs and dances evoke the vast grasslands symbolic of Inner Mongolia.

“Mongolian Moods is another example of the diversity of arts and cultural events available to Queenslanders at our Cultural Centre in Brisbane,” Mr Welford.

“In recent weeks, the Cultural Centre has played host to some of Brisbane’s best local bands at the Gighouse and the new Australian musical Sideshow Alley, and coming up are performances by The Australian Ballet and Australian Chamber Orchestra.”

Mongolian Moods was organised by the Australian Centre of Chinese Culture and Arts with the support of the QPAC and will include projected English subtitles.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985