Spring Festival unites Brazil and China at Theatro Municipal

Forte de Copacabana Orchestra celebrates Chinese New Year with a free concert, traditional dances, and guests Armandinho Macêdo and Yu Xi.

The Spring Festival 2026 will take over Rio de Janeiro’s Theatro Municipal on February 25, at 7 p.m., offering audiences an immersive cultural experience that bridges Brazil and China. Organized by the Forte de Copacabana Orchestra, the free event is part of the Brazil–China Cultural Year 2026 and promises a night of music, tradition, and unity.

Music meets millennial traditions

Under the baton of maestro Luiz Potter, the orchestra will perform a program blending Brazilian MPB and Chinese classics, featuring special guests Armandinho Macêdo and soprano Yu Xi. The evening will also include the traditional Lion Dance and Dragon Dance, powerful symbols of prosperity and renewal in Chinese culture.

Three ensembles, one performance

For the first time, the Orchestra presents its three groups — the big band, the Camerata, and the Chamber Orchestra Forte de Copacabana — gathering 60 young musicians from underprivileged areas. According to director Márcia Melchior, this union marks the project’s growth and the universal language of music connecting cultures.

Partnerships and legacy

Created by the Rudá Institute and recognized since 2024 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Rio de Janeiro State, the Orchestra is sponsored by CNOOC – Petroleum Brasil, Vale, Grupo Shalom, and co-sponsored by Tijoá Energia. The event is supported by the Confucius Institute at PUC-Rio and the RioMont Art and Culture Association.

After tours in China and Uruguay in 2025, the ensemble continues to expand, making the Spring Festival a celebration of tradition, innovation, and dialogue.

Photo: Bill Vianna