The 5th China Orchestra Festival is set to raise its curtain in Beijing. Themed “Historical Echoes - Chinese Early Symphony Works,” the event is jointly hosted by the National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Chinese Musicians Association.

In the early 20th century, a group of Chinese composers began exploring Western-style symphonic music. Their works are among the line-up at this year’s festival.

Chen Zuohuang is the NCPA’s Music Director and a favorite guest conductor with dozens of orchestras around the world.

“These early symphonic works by the composers of that time may be not so good if judged by today’s standards. You may think the instrumentation, musical language, or tonality are not so mature. But without these works, we could not possibly have today’s Chinese symphony music,” he said.

The 5th China Orchestra Festival, which begins on April the 8th, will include 12 Symphony Orchestras from around the country, including the China Philharmonic, the NCPA Orchestra, and China National Opera House Orchestra. The repertoire will also include 34 contemporary works by 29 Chinese composers.