Beijing Modern Music Festival celebrates Chinese orchestral works

The 2019 Beijing Modern Music Festival opens on May 19 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts with a series of modern Chinese compositions for symphony orchestra that celebrate the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

Performed by the China National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Hong Kong conductor, Wilson Ng, the opening concert includes six symphonies written by modern Chinese composers.

This year's Beijing Modern Music Festival runs from May 15 to 25 and will see performances by musical ensembles from countries including China, Ireland, France, Poland and the Netherlands will perform concerts, while experts from the UK and Thailand give master classes and lectures.

Ye Xiaogang, president of the Chinese Musicians' Association, said at the opening ceremony: "In the past 70 years, symphony in China has achieved unprecedented development with a large number of composers and outstanding works. With this year's festival, we would like to bring beautiful music to the audience, and also help promote Chinese music to the world."