Actors perform at the evening gala for the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, September 4, 2016. [Photo/IC]

A variety show titled "Hangzhou is most memorable" staged during the G20 Summit on Sunday night thrilled and entertained world state leaders and their spouses, as well as the public.

The director of the show, Zhang Yimou, revealed stories from behind the stage during an interview with China's Central Television.

Swan Lake dance over water uses new technology

Zhang revealed that high-tech holography was used during the show, which presented the relations between humans and images. "The technology was commonly used in indoor shows during recent years, while for outdoor performances, especially on the surface of water, in a purely natural scene, it was probably the first time it was used", Zhang said. "It was more difficult than the opening ceremony of the Olympics." Zhang masterminded the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Swan Lake show in the gala combines holographic images and real performers, Zhang said.

"Dancing Swan Lake on the West Lake is quite special, we jokingly said that it is probably the first dance on a real lake since the creation of the classic Swan Lake", said Zhang.

Combining Chinese and Western classical music

"I chose a symphony, as it is elegant and refined, and more importantly, it is a universal language", Zhang Yimou said. He thinks that G20 summit is a "universal language", a summit where the world has dialogues with each other and works towards progress together.

Zhang said world famous music such as Swan Lake, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and classic Chinese music are all "universal language", and they express emotions and forces that can be understood by all humans.