DATE: Jul 04, 2009 - Jul 11, 2009 19:30
VENUE: National Center for the Performing Arts

The National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing presents "Roam About the Classics" this July 2009, starting the 4 and 5 starting with Spain`s prized ensemble from the Canary Islands, Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife, or Tenerife Symphony Orchestra. Presently, the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra continues to thrive as part of the Asociación Espanola de Orquestas Sinfónicas (Spanish Association of Symphony Orchestras). On July 7 and 8, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra will perform lead by Conductors Chen Zuohuang and Christian Ehwald. On July 10 and 11, the show continues with Classics & Dreams: Concert by Kunzel & China National Opera House Symphony Orchestra. Remarkably, this concert will be broadcast live at large screens around Beijing such as in Wangfujing, Worker’s Stadium, etc so that all of us may share in this amazing display of classical music.

First Beijing Summer Concert

As a unique segment elaborately planned by the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) for the performance season this summer, "Roam About the Classics" will unavoidably lead one to compare it to the likes of London's Promenade Concert (Proms) and Berlin's Waldbühne. London's Promenade Concert (Proms) has been popular in Britain for 114 years and Waldbühne has been in vogue for 25 years in Germany. However, Beijing has never had a similar music festival in which people can enjoy music without restriction in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, "Roam About the Classics" will undoubtedly fill such a space. July is the hottest month in Beijing, so the other purpose of promoting "Roam About the Classics" by NCPA is to create a kind of fashionable way to spend summer. Firstly, "Roam About the Classics" concert will include three famous orchestras from home and abroad, four well-known conductors and six concerts. More than 50 excellent music works by 39 famous composers will be presented in one week.

July 4 and 5: The Tenerife Orchestra opens "Roam Around the Classics"

The Tenerife Orchestra opens "Roam Around the Classics" in Beijing July 4, 5 led by Chinese maestro Lü Jia, who led them in eleven of nineteen concerts last year. Most of the credit for the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra's success is normally attributed to Victor Pablo Pérez who became the ensemble's conductor after 1985. Since its creation, the orchestra has created over 30 recorded albums through labels Auvidis, Decca or Duetsche Gramophone, winning them international awards and fame such as best recording of the year by both Ritmo and CD Compact.
They will be performing classic pieces by Mozart, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and Stravinsky, including widely recognized and adored melodies such as Firebird, Le nozze di Fígaro, Oh! Mio babbino caro, and the William Tell Overture.

July 7 and 8: Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra: Igniting Occidental modern craze and outlining European classical brilliance

Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra on stage July 7th and 8th will also be extraordinary. Chen Zuohuang, the Musical Art Director of the NCPA along with famous German conductor Christian Ehwald will take turns to conduct the Orchestra, presenting distinctive individualistic works. On Jul. 7th, classical works of British and American contemporary composers such as Bernstein, Gershwin, Copland and Britten will be performed to ignite the pure Occidental modern craze; on Jul. 8th, the Orchestra will turn 180 degrees to draw the outline of flourishing and gorgeous European classical brilliance: Hungary's boldness and unconstraint, Czech's lightness and cheerfulness as well as Norway's greenness and vibrancy that make the whole concert an arbitrary tour of music.

July 10 and 11: "Prince of Film Music" performs together with China National Opera House Symphony Orchestra to change the opera hall to a "three-dimensional cinema"

The last performance of the concert is offered by Erich Kunzel, coined the "Master of film music". In the two concerts on July 10th and 11th, Kunzel will continue his love for film music and move a series of classical melodies from behind the screen curtain to the stage. From them, the whole stage of the opera hall will be changed to a huge simulated "three-dimensional cinema" holding more than 2000 audiences through special effects. Regarding how to make the change happen, NCPA has expressed that it will keep it a secret temporarily. Wonders are far beyond that. Another success trumped by Kunzel, the 73-year-old conductor master for dominating in the world music circle for many years is to re-perform familiar classical music in brand new instruments so as to form the unique personality of the musical composition.

Find information about Ticket and National Center for Performing Arts

Ticketing Information
Price: VIP¡¡300   200   120   80   50 RMB
Getting Tickets from the National Center for the Performing Arts

Buying tickets in person

The box office of the National Centre for the Performing Arts is located at the north entrance of the centre. It is open between 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. every day. We accept cash, American Express, Master Card, Visa and Union Pay debit cards. Most overseas international credit cards are accepted.

Booking tickets over the phone
Call +86 10 6655 0000 between 9:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. A delivery service is available or tickets may be collected 24 hours after placing your order. Please remember to bring your order number when picking up your tickets.
Group tickets:
86 10 6655 0893
86 10 6655 0105
86 10 6655 0891
Office hour: 9:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Source:echinacities.com