Culture Special: Beijing Music Festival: Harmony of classical and contemporary

Artistic director Yu Long has been with the Beijing Music Festival since its inception 15 years ago, helping it grow into the nation's premier celebration of classical music. Photos provided to China Daily

Premier music gala enriches lifestyle, benefits economy

Along with its rise in economic power, China has also become a considerable force in classical music. Conservatories are full. People flock to concerts. Provincial cities want orchestras and concert halls. Pianos and violins made in China fill shipping containers leaving its ports.

But before all that, there were a few Chinese music pioneers who did much to develop classical music in the country. One of them is Yu Long, the man behind the Beijing Music Festival, the nation's premier classical music gala.

In its 15th year, the Beijing Music Festival will be held from Oct 9 to Nov 2 with the theme "Music For You", offering audiences the festival's most diverse program ever over a 25-day run that will include opera, orchestral and chamber music, vocal recitals and crossovers with pop and rock.

Over the past 15 years, artistic director Yu has helped bring a range of musical luminaries to Chinese audiences.

Since the founding of the Beijing Music Festival, classical music has captured many people's hearts by its genial and elegant appeal.

The 15th Beijing Music Festival comprises 25 performances spanning old and new, fusing East and West. Among the genres represented are operas, symphonies and choral works, as well as solo recitals, chamber music and art songs.

Beginning with classical, then crossing over to popular music, the festival marks a true and joyful celebration.

The Beijing Music Festival has chosen "Music for you" as this year's slogan, hoping that music can enrich lifestyle, and that classical music culture can exist in every corner. In order to break through conventional formats, nearly half of festival concerts take place in a non-traditional venue at a Beijing fashion hotspot - Sanlitun.

The possibilities in connecting with music are limitless.