Irish band Ciorras Photo: Xiao Xin

By Sun Jianing

Spring comes with birds, flowers and also music. Celtic music is best known for its free nature. You will have the opportunity to appreciate the authentic Celtic Ballad at Forbidden City Concert Hall next month.

Celtic Ballad originates from Ireland and Scotland, absorbing nutrition and inspiration from these lands of idyllic beauty. Katie Targett Adams, entitled as the first Scottish Music Icon of the year, is the most famous balladeer in Scotland. Having received professional harp training since age 8 and attained master's degree on Old German and Old Spanish in Oxford, Katie Adams has been invited to perform in the US, Canada, China and many other countries. The launch ceremony of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in 2005 also witnessed Katie as the only musician invited by JK Rowling to attend the ceremony in Edinburgh. Katie's voice is usually considered the same style as Karen Carpenter and Chinese singer Cai Qin.

In contrast to Katie Adams, Irish band Ciorras is labeled modern and progressive. Music master Donar Rani has selected the most outstanding young talent in Ireland to make this band popular. The co-existence of air whistle, flute, concertina, harmonium and other similar Irish traditional folk instruments, together with modern violin, guitar, bass and percussion, makes this band quite to the taste of modern urban people.

What is still worth noting is the special artists from Ireland - child tap dancers Erin Jensen (10 years old) and Christy Jensen (12 years old), whose show is expected to enlighten the whole audience. Other highlights would come from Katie Adams' re-interpretation of Chinese classic songs like "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin" and the cooperation between children chorus and adult musicians. In a word, it is one show that you can't miss in this splendid season of springtime.

Where: Forbidden City Concert Hall

When: 7:30 pm, Friday, March 18

Ticket: 30 yuan to 380 yuan

Contact: 6559-8285