The 28th Beijing Music Festival (BMF), running from 10 to 24 October 2025, is set to be one of the most significant cultural events in China’s musical calendar. Known for its ability to balance heritage with innovation, the festival this year opens with celebrated conductor Yu Long at the helm of the China Philharmonic Orchestra. His leadership not only brings a sense of continuity to the festival but also reinforces its international stature.
The opening concert at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on 10 October will feature piano virtuoso Haochen Zhang alongside the orchestra under Yu Long’s baton. The programme combines two monumental works: Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5. Together they promise an evening of brilliance, pathos and orchestral power, setting a high bar for the rest of the festival.
This year’s theme, “Future Tradition: Moments and New Voices”, captures the spirit of the programming. It includes the China premieres of Handel’s Rinaldo in concert version and Alban Berg’s Wozzeck in a fully staged production. The festival also hosts the BBC Philharmonic, who will perform Huang Ruo’s interactive work City of Floating Sounds. This piece will extend music into urban spaces, allowing audiences to experience sound in new and unexpected ways.
BMF 2025 also champions cultural heritage through contemporary creativity. Among its commissions is “The Ocean Etched in the Forest”, a work by the Jinuo ethnic group. By drawing on intangible cultural traditions, the festival highlights the relevance of folk expression within the wider landscape of contemporary classical music.
Although Yu Long stepped down as artistic director in recent years, he continues to serve as Chair of the Artistic Committee. His influence remains deeply felt across the festival’s programming. Often described as the most powerful figure in Chinese classical music, Yu Long has been instrumental in shaping the international profile of Beijing’s musical life and in nurturing cross-cultural collaboration.
The 28th edition of the Beijing Music Festival reaffirms its position as both a guardian of tradition and a champion of new ideas. It bridges eras, cultures and communities, demonstrating the city’s continued role as a hub of global musical exchange. With Yu Long’s vision guiding the opening, audiences can expect an experience that is at once rooted in history and alive with innovation.