On the sunny afternoon of Sept 5, the inaugural voyage took place of the cruise ship the Oriental Pearl 3, or Shang Hai Zhi Xing – which departed Binjiang Avenue Pier along the iconic Bund of Shanghai on a special mission.

The ship – owned by the Oriental Tower – was not just a vessel on the Hongpu River. It had been magically transformed into a floating music hall by the talented musicians of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, heralding the commencement of its much-anticipated 2024-25 music season.

The season promises a series of innovative initiatives, as the orchestra ventures into various cross-sector collaborations to establish what it calls Shanghai Philharmonic spaces.

One such partnership is with Oriental Pearl 3. Gao Shanfeng, the president of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, revealed that the performance on the cruise ship was a special collaboration with the Oriental Pearl Tower in celebration of the tower's 30th anniversary.

Regular performances by the orchestra's musicians on the ship will allow audiences to immerse themselves in the city's charm, cultural heritage and melodious tunes – offering a unique cultural and tourism experience.

Adding to the fun, Gao announced the upcoming opening of J.Meet SPO Cafe&Bistro in October at the historic Wukang Building in central Shanghai. This will serve as another Shanghai Philharmonic-themed space, along with another space at Shanghai University of Technology .

To further expand the reach of symphonic art, the orchestra is also embracing digital technology to amplify its online presence. Collaborating with Bestv, the orchestra will utilize platforms like IPTV, internet TV and in-car screens to connect with a broader audience.

Cutting-edge technologies such as Audio vivid+4K will offer users an immersive concert experience, with multiple performances being livestreamed or be made available on-demand to reach a vast audience.

The orchestra's traditional lineup for the 2024-25 music season, which commenced on Sept 5, will boast a plethora of domestic and international classics in their Chinese premieres.

Notable performances will include Francis Poulenc's Fables, Andre Jolivet's trumpet, piano and string orchestra concerto, among others.

In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations, the orchestra has extended a warm invitation to French trumpet virtuoso Alexandre Baty to participate in the prestigious 23rd China Shanghai International Arts Festival.

Additionally, marking the 75th anniversary of China's diplomatic relations with Romania, the orchestra will introduce three complete Romanian works to the Chinese stage for the very first time.

The season will also feature ballet suites by Samuel Barber, symphonic tone poems like The Belle of the Ball and multiple film scores by Armenian composer Khachaturian – all making their debut in China.

Furthermore, the orchestra has commissioned composer Zhao Guang to craft a symphonic suite entitled Suzhou River, slated for its premiere on March 2, 2025.

Renowned musicians from around the globe will grace the stage throughout the season.

In November, the "Queen of Piano" Martha Argerich will perform alongside a stellar lineup – including her daughter Lyda Chen-Argerich, violinist Gil Shaham, pianist Theodosia Enthocu and cellist Edgar Moreau – at the Oriental Art Center.

Pianist Kong Xiangdong is set to share the stage in May with the sparkling 13-year-old Shanghai prodigy and pianist Yu Jiahong. Kong expressed his admiration for Yu, labeling him as the most astonishing young pianist he has encountered in the past two decades and hinted at an enthralling performance of Poulenc's Double Piano Concerto.

The season will culminate with a mesmerizing performance by violinist Asako Zomachi, who is expected to enthrall the Shanghai audience with Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major. As the youngest Tchaikovsky Violin Competition gold medalist, Zomachi's rendition will bring the curtain down on a season filled with musical brilliance and cultural richness.

Source: Shanghai Observer