Beijing Symphony Orchestra concludes season with sold-out performance

The Beijing Symphony Orchestra concluded its 2025-2026 concert season on July 26 with a sold-out performance of Ode to Joy at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Led by music director and chief conductor Yang Yang, the concert featured pianist and poet Ju Xiaofu, soprano Li Xiuying, mezzo-soprano Zhang Yajie, tenor Xue Haoyin, and bass Song Fengrun.

The evening opened with Mozart's Piano Concerto No 23, performed by Ju and the orchestra. Ju's interpretation highlighted the work's lyrical elegance and emotional depth, bringing clarity and refinement to one of Mozart's most celebrated piano concertos.

The second half featured Beethoven's Symphony No 9, one of the most iconic works in the orchestral repertoire.

The concert brought to a close a 10-month season that presented 24 performances spanning symphonic music, chamber music, and operatic repertoire. The orchestra performed nearly 100 classical and contemporary works while collaborating with leading conductors and soloists from China and abroad, continuing its commitment to delivering high-quality performances to audiences in the capital.

Looking ahead, the Beijing Symphony Orchestra's 2026-2027 season will coincide with its 50th anniversary and major musical anniversaries marking the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's death and the 230th anniversary of Schubert's birth. The new season will also feature landmark works by composers including Mahler, Wagner, and Tchaikovsky, offering audiences a broad exploration of classical and Romantic repertoire.