The audience maintain social distancing at the theater during the concert. JIANG DONG/CHINA DAILY

"We started to do rehearsals over a week ago. All of the musicians felt excited and missed the atmosphere of playing music together in one space," says Huang.

The concert invited those who had worked on the front line of epidemic prevention and control, to watch for free.

More performances will be staged during the second half of 2020 with detailed information still to be announced, says Liu Li, vice-president of the orchestra.

"I'm thrilled to come to the theater again. It's been such a long time since I've watched a live performance," says audience member Hu Jingran, who came to watch the orchestra's concert on Sunday.

Only 30 percent of the seats in the Poly Theater were available, to maintain at least one meter of distance between visitors. Before entering the theater, the audience were required to have their temperatures checked. "Green" QR codes on their mobile phones, signifying good health, were also needed.

According to the general manager of Poly Theater, Feng Baokun, the theater is gradually reopening and a series of programs, from concerts to dramas, have been planned.