Noted Chinese conductor and founder/art director of BMF Yu Long spoke at a press conference Tuesday in Beijing. [Photo/Qianlong.com]

Yu Long told Chinese media at a press conference Tuesday that BMF had grown into a major force pushing forward commissioned works in China. "It provides a stage for these works to reach followers of classic music. Although classic music is a hobby of a small crowd, it is also an important part of Chinese culture.

"Music is an art that passes from one generation to another. We had Mozart and Beethoven and the classical works. Now we need to find emerging talents and help them create great works," Yu said.

Last year, BFM focused on the late German composer Richard Strauss. This year, the festival will introduce a brand new theme, "Revel in Romance". Musicians from different countries will present many concerts to honor two German Romantic representatives, composer Richard Wagner and pianist Johannes Brahms.

Under the baton of Finnish conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste, WDR Symphony Orchestra will give four concerts on Brahms including all his symphonies, and his representative piano concerto, violin concerto as well as double concerto by violin and cello. Pianist Gerhard Oppitz, cellist Wang Jian, violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann, and Xu Weiling will be involved in the performance.

Produced by Austrian Tirol Festival Erl, two Wagner operas, The Master-Singers of Nuremberg and Tristan and Isolde will make their China debut during the festival.

The BMF has held many premieres since its start in 1998. Another China premiere this year will be the closing concert which will have maestro Peter Ruzicka conducting the Estonia National Male Choir, International Choral Academy Lubeck, Shanghai Opera House Choir and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra for Arnold Schoenberg's strange yet fascinating mega-cantata Gurrelieder.

In addition, BFM will also include The Heaven & Earth Totem by renowned Chinese female musician Liu Sola and Her Friends, and Ping Pong Concerto, featured American violinist Elizabeth Zeltser and two Ping Pong players in real life, by 36-year-old American composer Andy Akiho.