Viewers drawn to concerts in cyberspace

The 27-year-old graduated from the National University of Singapore's Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in 2013 and furthered his studies at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music in Dresden, Germany, in 2015, where he obtained his master's before joining the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra in 2018.

"For audiences (an online performance) is also a new way to enjoy classical music, which is usually considered a high and serious art form. They don't have to sit quietly and wear formal dress. They can eat, talk and share their ideas by posting comments while watching the performance, which is fun," Zhou said.

Cao Jiwen, branding director of the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra, said the idea of performing a livestreaming concert on Bilibili arose about a month ago when the orchestra's schedule was put on hold.

"We have built up a stable fan base since the orchestra was formed. With many concerts and public events being canceled or postponed due to the viral outbreak, people have told us that they are disappointed and they miss the orchestra's performances. They would love to see a concert, but understand the situation," Cao said.

"Although our musicians could not get together for rehearsals, they have had hours of individual practice at home. We wanted to give it a try by holding livestreaming concerts, which is a breakthrough for classical music."