Title: French Children’s Choir: “My Dream of Going to China Comes True”
During a recent event in Wuzhishan, Hainan, the children from the Parisian choir echoed their dreams with the charming song “If I Go to China.” The melody captures their innocent hopes, singing, “If I go to China with my friends, we’ll take a plane and land in Beijing during recess…”
On the evening of October 25, the choir performed the song at the Hainan Provincial Song and Dance Theater in Haikou as part of the “Friendship Bridge of Chinese and French Children’s Choirs” event. Their voices painted a picture of longing and admiration for China.
Throughout this cultural exchange, the French choir visited various venues in Hainan, including Hainan University and Maona Village, where they shared the stage and performed the beloved “If I Go to China” multiple times.
Last year’s Dragon Boat Festival marked a unique moment when children from China and France sang this song together despite being continents apart. The Paris choir, on their end, joined in perfectly, harmonizing the lyrics that sparked their imaginations.
This summer, the dream became a reality for the choir members as they toured cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Zhengzhou, singing about cultural landmarks such as the Great Wall and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.
Margot, a 16-year-old choir member, shared her familiarity with these locations, having visited China six years ago before they began performing “If I Go to China.” “When we rehearsed the song last year, the lyrics seemed so vivid because I had experienced these places,” she recalled.
Now back in China with new choir friends, everything felt fresh and exciting. Her bandmate, Valentin, expressed his gratitude, stating, “It’s my first time in China, and I’ve had the chance to explore so many places.”
Their visit to Hainan marked a special commitment to their musical journey. Elisabeth Trigo, the choir’s conductor and artistic director, emphasized the significance of their encounter in Paris, which initiated this profound collaboration. “It’s our choir’s first in-depth partnership with a Chinese group, and the children are thrilled to reconnect with their friends from Paris,” she explained.
In May, the Wuzhishan Limin Children’s Choir traveled to France, singing alongside the Paris choir, forging friendships through music. Five months later, they reunited in Hainan, resonating once again with the harmony of friendship.
During the performance, the Paris choir showcased their versatility by singing “The Moon Represents My Heart” in Mandarin, adding a warm touch to their act.
While Valentin didn’t get to meet martial arts masters at Shaolin or scoop up water from rice paddies as mentioned in the song, the gestures of friendship with his Limin counterparts were immortalized through a photograph.
“Although Hainan wasn’t written into the lyrics of ‘If I Go to China,’ my experience here has left a profound and beautiful impression on me,” Valentin commented, expressing a desire to learn more about the lives of his new friends in Wuzhishan. “What is their life like in such a uniquely beautiful place? What do they do for fun? I’m really curious.”
This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France, and Elisabeth could not have been happier for the children to visit China and broaden their understanding through music. “’If I Go to China’ represents a child’s innocent perspective. You must visit China to grasp its magic,” she noted.
For Valentin, the dream of “If I Go to China” is just beginning. “There is still so much beauty in China waiting for me to explore and discover.”
