The 18th Daegu International Musical Festival winds up with a grand awards ceremony on July 8. [Photo provided to silkroadexpo.gogansu.com]

The 18th Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF) concluded with a grand awards ceremony on Monday.

The Chinese musical Flying Apsaras emerged as the star of the night in the South Korean city, clinching the festival's highest award. The lead in the musical, Gao Tianhe, was also honored with the Best Actor Award.

Established in 2006, DIMF is the largest musical festival in Asia and has become a landmark event in the global musical industry. This year, the festival featured 40 musicals from seven states: China, South Korea, the United States, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Japan.

Flying Apsaras made a sensational impact during its performances last weekend, overwhelming audiences with its energy and style.

Flying Apsaras employs music and dance to bridge thousands of years of history, paying homage to the creators and guardians of culture in Dunhuang, a city in Gansu province that was a key node in the ancient Silk Road, The musical’s vibrant and colorful melodies, along with its evocative lyrics, allow the audience to experience Dunhuang in a deeply personal way. The dancers, portraying flying fairies, vividly recreate the breathtaking scenes portrayed in the Dunhuang Grotto murals.

By integrating stage art, augmented reality (AR) and other technological means, the production offers an innovative approach to bringing the audience closer to the rich heritage of Dunhuang.

Flying Apsaras – the name is a reference to a mythical figure painted in the Dunhuang Grottoes – represents a collaborative effort, uniting leading talents from national art troupes, local governments, grassroots troupes and social media.

The production boasts a stellar creative team, with renowned Chinese musical producer Li Dun serving as artistic director and prolific composer Sanbao leading on music composition. Acclaimed playwright Guan Shan produced the script and lyrics.

The production features outstanding performers primarily from the Gansu Opera House, Lanzhou Grand Theatre, China Oriental Performing Arts Group and Halo Live.