In the context of a Chinese Culture Festival staged in St. Petersburg, the National Symphony Orchestra of the China National Opera and Ballet Theater will present a series of performances. The ensemble, known for its deep-rooted Chinese musical heritage blended with a modern orchestral voice, serves as the festival’s centerpiece and is organized by ROSCONCERT. The event offers audiences a rare chance to experience a national-level Chinese orchestra performing both traditional and contemporary works in Europe.
The Moscow concert is scheduled for November 13 at 19:00 and will be hosted on the Bolshoi Theatre New Stage. In St. Petersburg, the festival continues on November 16 at 19:00, with the main stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater presenting a distinct concert as part of the IX St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum. Each performance promises a rich, culturally immersive experience that highlights the breadth of Chinese orchestral music and its modern interpretations.
The concert programs will feature pieces by renowned contemporary Chinese composers such as Zhao Jiping, Wang Yunfei, Liu Wenjin, Zhang Chao, Zhang Qiuyuan, and other notable names. The selections are crafted to reflect a spectrum of styles, from sweeping symphonic overtures to intimate pieces written for solo instruments and orchestra. Additionally, popular songs arranged for orchestral forces will broaden the listening palette, enabling audiences to hear familiar melodies in a fresh orchestral context.
Musical works will be performed using both traditional academic symphony instruments and Chinese folk instruments. The program includes performances for solo cello as well as pieces featuring instruments like the pipa, liuqin, bamboo flute, and guzheng. This blend showcases the versatility of Chinese musical traditions and their capacity to sit naturally beside Western orchestral voices in a concert setting.
Founded in 1950, the National Symphony Orchestra of China National Opera and Ballet Theater stands as one of the earliest professional national orchestras in China. Its long history is marked by a commitment to artistic excellence, wide repertoires, and energetic collaborations with conductors and soloists from around the world. The orchestra has been a prominent ambassador for Chinese music, touring across continents and presenting a broad range of works that span classical symphonic forms, traditional Chinese scores, and modern compositions.
According to ROSCONCERT, the ensemble is distinguished by a distinctive artistic voice and a repertoire that embraces both traditional and contemporary genres. In September 2015, the orchestra presented a large-scale program titled “Country Treasures,” which celebrated Chinese national music in a richly varied survey. The tour following that program included stops in Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Austria, Australia, and New Zealand, among other destinations, highlighting the group’s international reach and adaptability. The ensemble’s ongoing performances reflect a dynamic approach to programming and a dedication to cultural exchange through music.