The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra unveils the 2024-25 season set list, which includes 84 performances. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra has unveiled its 2024-25 season set list, comprising a grand total of 83 captivating performances spanning symphony, opera, and crossover concerts. Released on June 25, the lineup promises a blend of diverse musical genres, with a stellar roster of top musicians from across the globe slated to grace the stage in celebration of the orchestra's remarkable 145-year journey.

The concert commemorating the orchestra's 145th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the Shanghai Symphony Hall, a standout feature of the upcoming season, is scheduled to take place on Sept 6. The event will witness the convergence of four former orchestra conductors, who will enthrall attendees with a mesmerizing showcase of music masterpieces from both home and abroad.

Among the season's highlights are the renditions of the opera Porgy and Bess, a collaborative performance by the Shanghai orchestra and the Cape Town Opera Chorus, as well as Giuseppe Verdi's timeless classic Rigoletto, featuring a stellar cast led by the legendary Leo Nucci, hailed as the quintessential Rigoletto of the past three decades.

Audiences can also look forward to the world premieres of Liang Haoyi's The Chinese Kitchen, a musical ode to Chinese culinary culture, and Zhou Long's Nine Songs, an erhu fiddle concerto, drawing inspiration from the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan's magnum opus.

In a nod to emerging talent, the season will showcase China's finest young musicians, including the prodigious Gen Z conductor Jin Yukuang, who made waves by reaching the finals of the prestigious International Conducting Competition in Rotterdam, alongside talented young players from the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

Chamber music enthusiasts can look forward to the Z+ Festival, while aficionados of early European music will be enthralled by the Early Music Festival.

In a bid to foster musical education and community engagement, the season will feature five Music Map Classes tailored for students interested in symphonic music, as well as six Evening Peak Concerts designed to help white-collar professionals unwind after a day's work.

For eager patrons looking to secure their seats for this musical extravaganza, early bird tickets for the new season are set to go on sale at 1 pm on June 26.

Source: Shanghai Observer