Celebrated Music Festival in China Begins Today

For 25 years, the Beijing Music Festival (BMF) has highlighted the best international talent of
the day in the world of classical music. The festival has historically explored Beijing’s classical
music heritage, creating novel musical experiences rooted in the city’s history. The 25th/26th
festival starts today and runs until Oct. 15, with the theme of Music, Youth, Future, & Attitude —
a nod to BMF’s exploration of new experiences and innovative models. Under the vision of
Artistic Director Shuang Zou, BMF will showcase 25 diverse performances over 24 days,
including opera, world premieres, visual symphonic concerts, recitals, and chamber music.

Since its founding in 1998 by conductor Long Yu, BMF has galvanized the creation of Western
and Chinese contemporary music, turning Beijing into an international music hub in the fall
through creative programming, bridging China to the rest of the world. The festival also lets
young Chinese musicians showcase their talents from a platform with global reach, which has
been the driving force for Long Yu, now the Artistic Committee chairman, for many years.

BMF, in its 24th season, presents The Songs of Life, a program that paired Mahler with the 20th-
century Chinese composer Ding Shande.

Fantastic Symphonic Suite Homage to Liu Tianhua, commissioned jointly by BMF and the
Beijing Chinese Orchestra and composed by Zou Ye. The festival also includes the Chinese
premiere of the new symphonic dance The Monkey King, by Liu Sola, which blends elements of
folk, modern music, traditional Chinese instruments, jazz, and the grandeur of the symphony. It
will be performed by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra — the oldest symphony orchestra in
Asia and long-time BMF collaborator.

An alluring addition this year is the Icelandic jazz talent Laufey, making her China debut with the
China Philharmonic Orchestra. The British conductor John Warner will lead the Mahler
Foundation Festival Orchestra through a century-long dialogue with Mahler, presenting new
works from Chinese and foreign composers like Huang Ruo and Wang Ying, who are both
presenting Chinese premieres, and Sarah Scott, Wang Feinan, and Li Zhenyan, all of whom are
premiering new works. Music by Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Shen Yiwen, and Li Zhenyan will also
engage with Mahler in the programs.

Another highlight this year is the Chinese premiere of AI’s Variation, by Hao Weiya — an opera
that depicts a future world where artificial intelligence coexists with humanity, exploring the
significance of humanity. The festival also presents Pastoral for the Planet, a visual symphony
by Spain’s avant-garde theater troupe La Fura dels Baus. The multimedia concert combines
installation and performance with a Beethoven program that consists of Symphony No. 6,
Symphony No. 7, and the ballet The Creatures of Prometheus. It will be performed by the
Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra under conductor Huang Yi.

These are some highlights of this signature event — a high point in classical music in Asia and
the world that continues to foster long-lasting intercultural relations.
Find out more information at bmf.org.cn