BEIJING — The 28th Beijing Music Festival concluded in grand style on October 24 at the Poly Theatre, with a powerful closing concert that brought together world-class soloists, orchestra, and chorus for an evening of musical discovery.
Gil Shaham Brings Beijing Music Festival 2025 to a Brilliant Close – Concerts & Events
Led by acclaimed conductor Yang Yang, the China Philharmonic Orchestra was joined by the chorus of the China National Opera House, alongside celebrated violinist Gil Shaham and renowned mezzo-soprano Ildikó Komlósi.
The programme offered audiences a compelling blend of classical tradition and contemporary creativity, reaffirming the Festival’s long-standing commitment to musical dialogue across styles and cultures. Shaham’s performance stood out as a highlight of the evening, marked by his signature virtuosity, lyrical depth, and expressive clarity, earning enthusiastic response from the audience.
A particularly notable moment of the concert was the Beijing Music Festival debut of an excerpt from Chinese Kitchen, a new work by composer Elliot Leung. The piece celebrates China’s rich culinary heritage through vivid orchestral colour, transforming flavours and aromas into an imaginative sonic landscape. Its inclusion underscored the Festival’s role as a platform for new music and contemporary voices.
Through its dynamic orchestration, Chinese Kitchen evokes the textures, rhythms, and contrasts of Chinese gastronomy, offering a sensory experience that resonated strongly with the audience and added a distinctive modern element to the closing programme.
With its final concert, the 28th Beijing Music Festival once again demonstrated its ability to unite international artists, new compositions, and cultural storytelling, closing the season on a note of artistic vitality and creative openness.
— The Violin Post Editorial Staff
