Stringing together an outstanding new season

Meanwhile, Wagner's monumental Ring Cycle, developed over several seasons, will reach its conclusion in 2027, when all four operas will have been staged.

In March 2027, Lyu and pianist Chen Sa will lead the orchestra on its fourth national tour, visiting Shanghai, Nanjing in Jiangsu province, Wuhan in Hubei province, and Guangzhou in Guangdong province, with works including Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No 1, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 4, Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, and Ravel's orchestration of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.

Beyond the concert hall, lectures, master classes, artist talks, and open rehearsals run throughout the season. The orchestra also brings classical music to communities, schools, hospitals, and rural areas, making performances closer to everyday life.

For violinist Li Zhe, the executive director of the NCPA Orchestra, that outreach is part of its responsibility as a cultural institution.

"Guiding the younger generation to embrace classical music, preserving the shared artistic heritage of humanity, and nurturing musical talent for our country are responsibilities the orchestra cannot shirk," Li says.