In tune with young musicians

"The classical music scene in China is at a turning point toward a new future with many young musicians appearing onstage. The future lies in amplifying their voices and reaching a wider audience," says Yu. "The Beijing Music Festival will serve as the starting point for young Chinese musicians to step onto the global stage."

According to Zou Shuang, artistic director of the Beijing Music Festival, young musicians, such as jazz musician Laufey Lin Bing — who has gained a large fan base by combining composition with singing and playing the cello — and young conductors, including Jin Yukuang, Sun Yifan and Yu Ji, will perform during the upcoming festival.

Young soloists, such as viola player Mei Diyang, who is the first Chinese musician to hold the position of first principal viola at the Berliner Philharmoniker, pianists Ju Xiaofu and Zhang Haotian, and cellist Mo Mo, will appear in various performances during the festival.

Zou mentions that besides young Chinese musicians, John Warner, a young conductor from the UK, will lead the Mahler Foundation Festival Orchestra for a concert on Oct 10, which will create a dialogue with Mahler's century-old classical works, by presenting new pieces from young Chinese and Western composers.

"This year's festival will be a true renaissance of musical exchange and a grand gathering of young musicians from around the world," Zou adds.

In 2002, Yu Long first introduced what he says is a "Chinese concept" to the Beijing Music Festival, and since then, it has continuously featured classical music works and newly commissioned pieces by Chinese composers.

This year, the opening concert of the 25th and 26th Beijing Music Festival will be held on Sept 22, commemorating musician Liu Tianhua (1895-1932) and the 101st anniversary of the founding of the Peking University Music Training Institute.