"One gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things." This ancient Chinese saying captures the concept of development from simplicity to complexity, symbolizing endless possibilities. This year marks the first year of the formal opening of the National Centre for the Performing Arts’ One Centre, Three Sites development pattern. At this new starting point, the China NCPA Concert Hall Orchestra is also poised to step into the next stage.
On September 3, the orchestra announced the schedule for the 2024/25 season with a theme of Created Universe. The season will include 106 performances featuring international maestros, comprising 51 opera shows, 39 symphony concerts, 5 chamber music concerts, and 11 chamber ensemble concerts.
In terms of the highly anticipated lineup, 12 guest conductors such as Van Zweden, Hannu Lintu, Lawrence Foster, Markus Stenz, Zheng Mingxun, and Zhang Xian will collaborate deeply with the orchestra. Renowned artists like Lang Lang, Yang Vogler, Ning Feng, Shen Yang, Sergei Nakariakov, Tao Kangrui, Su Meng, and 40 other guest artists will also join the orchestra in various performances. Lang Lang will present a specially curated Lang Lang Music Week in May 2025 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, featuring solo concerts, masterclasses, and two collaborative concerts with the orchestra.
Two musicians deserve special attention—resident artist pianist Zhang Haochen will perform Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Piano Concerto No. 2 successively, along with a marathon presentation of all five of Rachmaninoff’s piano concertos. The spotlight will also be on composer Guo Wenjing, whose works will span two seasons. In the 2024/25 season, his flute concerto Wild Fire, the zheng and orchestra piece Spring Outlook, and the Chinese Folk Song Suite will premiere. Two new works, the opera Red Sorghum and a symphonic work based on Chinese new poetry, will meet the audience in the next season.
In terms of program planning, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations, French music will add a touch of brightness to the stage. The 2024/25 season coincides with significant milestones in the lives of composers like Bruckner and Puccini, with several commemorative concerts featuring their iconic works. Under the direction of music director Lü Jia, the orchestra’s nearly 4-year-long journey through Bruckner’s works will come to a close. The upcoming performance of Symphony No. 4 in September will mark the finale of the orchestra’s Bruckner Symphony Cycle project, with related recordings set to be released later this year. Additionally, the orchestra will pay tribute to Shostakovich’s 50th death anniversary with a series of his concertos and other works.
Grounded in Beijing and China, telling Chinese stories through the language of music has always been the unwavering mission of the China NCPA Concert Hall Orchestra. In the 2024/25 season, premieres include commissioned works by Yao Chen, Zhao Jiping, as well as a collaborative environmental-themed work Twists and Turns by Huang Ruo and Marlene Alsop involving orchestras from five continents. In August 2025, the orchestra will embark on a European tour with maestro Zheng Mingxun, performing at prestigious venues such as the Edinburgh Festival, the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, marking a formal return to the international stage, showcasing the essence of Chinese music once again.
At the threshold of ‘Created Universe,’ we see a moment of transformation from quantitative to qualitative, and a greater sense of responsibility, said Ren Xiaolong, general manager of the China NCPA Concert Hall Orchestra. Next year, the orchestra will celebrate its 15th anniversary. For Lü Jia, the 15 years represent a measuring rod witnessing the orchestra’s growth from its inception, through exploration and refinement, forming a unique consciousness of quality, tonal tradition, and cultural harmony. Today, with a steady influx of new members, the orchestra continues to evolve, with 122 musicians as of September 2024. Looking ahead, while continuously supplying performances for Beijing and the domestic market, the orchestra will host more diverse and intensive artistic outreach activities, contributing to the cultural life of the city.
Translator: FENG Haoxuan
Reviewer:Ding Hongwei
