Two violinists from the NCPA Orchestra's string quartet, Li Zhe (left) and Liu Xian, perform during the event.[Photo provided to China Daily]

The first livestreamed performance's viewer numbers exceeded his expectations, he says.

Ren has worked with the NCPA since 2009.

The NCPA Orchestra performs about 100 shows around the world a year.

"We've reached out to a bigger audience through the online concerts. That is, people who may not be classical music fans but are interested in it," Ren says.

"Music brings people joy and strength, especially when they're struggling in their lives. I can still remember the first concert that conductor Yu Long and the China Philharmonic Orchestra gave after SARS in 2003. It featured Mahler's Second Symphony in C Minor (The Resurrection). We want to comfort people with music during this difficult time."

The repertoires the orchestra selected for the online concerts deliver messages of love, hope and healing amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The weekly series saw the orchestra play its second online concert on Saturday, titled Echo of Destiny, which included such pieces as Gustav Mahler's Piano Quartet in A Minor, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's String Quartet No 1 in D Major, Op 11 and Face to Face, a piece by Liu Heng for a percussion duo.

On April 25, eight cellists will play Max Bruch's Kol Nidrei during the third online concert, titled Pray for Love. On May 2, Lyu Jia will take the baton and lead the orchestra to perform Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, and Mozart's Divertimento in E-Flat Major, K 563 and Serenade in G Major during the concert with the theme of "embracing spring".

"I stayed at home like most people during the outbreak but didn't stop practicing," principal bassoonist Ji Jingjing says.

"This year marks the NCPA Orchestra's 10th founding anniversary, and these online concerts are a very special way to connect with audiences."