Orchestra's upcoming program reflects changing face of classical music in the country, Chen Nan reports.

Promising a new season of passion and excitement, the China Philharmonic Orchestra recently unveiled the program for its 2024-25 concert season, kicking off the latest chapter in its 25-year evolution.

It will feature 22 concerts that span compositions from the Baroque to the contemporary period and will celebrate a number of significant anniversaries, including those of Bruckner, Strauss, and Ravel. The orchestra will revisit beloved classics and premiere pieces previously unperformed.

The tradition of the China Philharmonic Orchestra launching its own performing season began with its 2001-02 season. It was founded in 2000 by conductor Yu Long, who is also the orchestra's artistic director.

"Having its own performance season is crucial for a symphony orchestra. A structured season allows it to plan its repertoire, schedule, and resources efficiently. It is a road map for the musicians, conductors, and administrative staff to prepare and execute their work effectively," says Yu. "A defined season helps build a loyal audience by offering a series of performances that patrons can anticipate and attend regularly. It creates a sense of continuity and commitment, encouraging audience members to return and engage with the orchestra.

"We have devised a diverse series of programs, which will not only showcase various styles, but also lead to our growth and innovation," Yu adds. "Over the past two decades, China's classical music scene has undergone drastic changes and development. I am proud that the China Philharmonic Orchestra has been part of those changes, and has played a key role in bringing them about."

The new season opened with a concert conducted by Yu at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Aug 31.The program included Mussorgsky's Dawn Over the Moskva River, from his Russian opera Khovanshchina, and Pictures at an Exhibition, a suite of 10 movements inspired by his visit to an art exhibition originally composed for the solo piano, but which later became better known in orchestral form after it was arranged by Ravel.

Featuring violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley, the first concertmaster of the Berliner Philharmoniker, the concert included Bernstein's Serenade (after Plato's Symposium), a composition for the solo violin, strings, harp and percussion.

To mark the 200th anniversary of Bruckner's birth, under the baton of Polish-British conductor Jacek Kaspszyk, the former artistic director of the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the CPO performed Symphony No 4 in E-Flat Major, WAB 104, at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing on Friday. Violinist Jiang Yiying, 25, also performed Mozart's Violin Concerto No 4 in D major, K 218.

"One of the most important things about the development of the classical music scene is the younger generation of musicians," says Yu. "When I was a young conductor, many older musicians helped and inspired me. Now, we need to do the same thing for the young, who are always a major part of our performing season."

On Sept 21, trumpet player Yang Xunji, who just graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music with a master's degree, will play Shostakovich's concerto for piano, trumpet and orchestra, also known as Piano Concerto No 1 in C Minor, Op 35, under the baton of conductor Zhang Guoyong at the Forbidden City Concert Hall.

"It's one of my favorite pieces, it's witty and brilliant, and leaves plenty of room for sparkling virtuosity," says Yang, who joined the CPO in 2021 and has been its principal trumpet player since 2022.

Yang will also perform Chen Qigang's Joie Eternelle (Eternal Joy) for the trumpet and orchestra in a concert at the NCPA on Nov 22 under the baton of conductor Huang Yi.

"The piece sets up a lot of challenges for the player, not only in terms of musical expression and techniques, but also sheer physicality. I am thrilled to perform it, and hope that I can bring this unforgettable tune alive with the sound of the trumpet," says Yang.

The trumpet player recently won first place in the Orchestral Excerpts Division of the 2024 Ryan Anthony Memorial Trumpet Competition, which was held during the 48th Annual International Trumpet Guild Conference. The guild is a worldwide organization of trumpeters, and the conference took place in Los Angeles between May 28 and June 1.

"A Chinese player has won this international award for the first time, filling a gap in the field of the trumpet," the Central Conservatory of Music stated in a congratulation letter to Yang, which was released on June 6.

"The orchestra has provided many young people like me with opportunities and a platform. Since I joined, Yu has entrusted me with important solo passages from many challenging pieces," says Yang.

According to Yu, with more and more female conductors than ever before, the orchestra also wants to encourage young Chinese female conductors to take the stage.

Next April 27, 30-year-old female conductor Cui Linhan will perform a concert of music by Prokofiev, including Symphony No 1 in D Major, Op 25, which is often referred to as the "Classical", and Violin Concerto No 2, Op 63, which will feature violinist Julian Rachlin.

"He composed the music during a period of immense artistic and cultural transformation. The symphony pays homage to the classical era, while it is infused with Prokofiev's signature modern style," says Cui. "The violin concerto is a captivating and emotionally charged piece that demonstrates his unique compositional style."

It will be the first time for Cui to perform with the China Philharmonic Orchestra and Rachlin, an opportunity she describes as exciting.

She will also interpret selected pieces from Prokofiev's most popular work, Romeo and Juliet, a ballet based on Shakespeare's tragedy, in which "the music is not only closely related to the stage action, but is also a masterpiece which can readily stand on its own".

"While classical music — especially leadership roles — used to be heavily dominated by men, things are starting to change as more women pick up the conductor's baton," says Cui, who currently holds the positions of principal conductor of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, artistic director of the Toronto Artists Symphony Orchestra, and principal conductor of the Palermo Classica Festival in Italy.

Born in Shenyang, Liaoning province, Cui began studying the piano at the age of 4. She started conducting at 18, when she was the only student accepted at the Xinghai Conservatory and is currently pursuing doctoral studies in orchestral conducting at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the guidance of Arthur Fagen. Cui also holds a Master of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied under Marin Alsop.

In 2025, the China Philharmonic Orchestra will celebrate its 25th birthday. One of the highlights of the celebration will be a performance at the NCPA on April 30 of Carmina Burana, a cantata for orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists by Carl Orff.

The piece occupies a special place for the CPO, which has successfully performed it over the past 25 years, and is one of its most famous offerings. In 2019, in celebration of Deutsche Grammophon's 120th anniversary, a gala and recording of the piece was made at Beijing's Forbidden City, featuring conductor Yu and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.