The 15th Music in the Summer Air (MISA) will be held in Shanghai from July 1 to 15. Conducted by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, this music festival has delighted audiences every July since 2010.

This year's event, promising a vibrant celebration of music, culture and friendship, is set to captivate music enthusiasts in Shanghai and beyond.

With an array of live performances, online events, symphony concerts, and engaging discussions, the 2024 MISA is a cultural extravaganza not to be missed. As music echoes through the city, Shanghai becomes a melting pot of melodies, uniting music lovers from all walks of life in a harmonious celebration of art and friendship.

"Music is a part of the life in this city. MISA allows every resident living here and friends from afar to experience the vibrant musical life of Shanghai. It serves as a window to present music from around the world and a musical gateway for the world to understand Shanghai more deeply," says Yu Long, music director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and artistic director of this year's MISA.

Get-together in Shanghai

Kicking off on July 1, MISA will hold a grand opening concert themed "Music and Friends". The festival will bring together four generations of conductors – Yu Long, Yang Yang, Huang Yi, and Sun Yifan – alongside renowned instrumentalists like Ning Feng, Wang Jian, Qin Liwei, Zhang Haochen, and Wang Yalun. Together, they will enchant the audience with masterpieces by Felix Mendelssohn, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Fritz Kreisler, Frederic Chopin, and more.

On July 2 and 3, Jaap van Zweden, who is about to step down from the post of music director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, will lead his team to perform masterpieces by Gustav Mahler, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johannes Brahms. He will also present the Chinese premiere of "Lumina" by the composer Nina Shekhar, a young and talented composer.

Commemorating eternal spirit of martial arts on centenary of Jin Yong

A highlight of the festival is the closing concert on July 15, where Yu Long will lead the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to pay tribute to the enduring martial arts spirit of Jin Yong, also known as Louis Cha, the Chinese grand master of martial arts novels. Featuring violinist Wang Jing and flutist Feng Tianshi, the concert will showcase works like Chinese composer Tan Dun's "Hero" Violin Concerto and a new piece by composer Liang Haoyi, honoring the legacy of Jin Yong and his cultural influence.

Travelling world via music

On July 5, Latvian accordionist Ksenija Sidorova and young German baritone Benjamin Appl will perform the Night in Venice concert, allowing the audience to experience the delicate and romantic scenery of the water city within the concert hall.

On July 6, the GCG Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of US composer-conductor master Leonard Bernstein and minimalist music representative John Adams, will take the stage and offer a unique US music medley. They are set to perform works by Oscar-winning composers such as Erich Wolfgang Korngold and John Corigliano.

On July 12, young mezzo-soprano Wu Hongni and Russian pianist Sergey Rybin will work together to present Gypsy songs in the concert entitled Journey of Loneliness.

Harmonica, accordion, and saxophone take center stage

The festival will also spotlight unconventional instruments like harmonicas, accordions, and saxophones. Italian harmonica maestro Gianluca Littera's collaboration with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra on July 5 and accordionist Ksenija Sidorova's exploration of tango music on July 7 are set to mesmerize audiences with their eclectic repertoire.

Cross-era music dialogue

From Baroque elegance to modern classicism, the festival will bridge eras and genres, showcasing talented pianists, ensembles, and orchestras. The performances by twin pianists and early music ensembles from Italy and Shanghai promise a dynamic dialogue between classic and modern music.

On July 4, pianists Shi Wei, Shi Rong, Zhou Yueping, and Zhou Yueling, two pairs of twin sisters, will collaborate for the first time at MISA, performing the lively melodies of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Russian composer Anton Arensky.

On July 11, the Italian Ensemble Resonanz and the Shanghai Camerata will transport the audience through time and space by recreating music from the Baroque era.

Youth growing together with MISA

The festival will nurture young talents through student orchestras and youth participation programs, embodying its commitment to arts education and community engagement.

Venues: Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall and Shanghai City Lawn Music Plaza

2024 MISA Music Calendar

Sources: "shanghaitourism" WeChat account, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra