Rehearsal of Romeo et Juliette at Shanghai Opera House. [Photo by Cao Jiamiao/provided to China Daily]

Shanghai Opera House presented French composer Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)'s choral symphony Romeo et Juliette at Shanghai Symphony Hall on March 31, a highlight event of the ongoing Season of French-China Music Exchanges.

An integral part of the 39th Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, the season of music exchanges was launched this year in celebration of the 60th anniversary for the Sino-French diplomatic ties. It consists of seven concerts and a series of forums, lectures and other activities.

French cellist Eric Picard will be participating in the concert as the principal of the cello sector of Shanghai Opera House. [Photo by Cao Jiamiao/provided to China Daily]

Berlioz's Romeo et Juliette is a romantic composition with rich colors and incorporates chorus and vocal soloists into five large sections derived from episodes of Shakespeare's drama, according to Maestro Xu Zhong, director of Shanghai Opera House, who will conduct the concert.

French guitarist Cassie Martin. [Photo by Cao Jiamiao/provided to China Daily]

The other six concerts of the Sino-French musical exchange series are: Echo of Notre-Dame de Paris: Organ Recital by Olivier Latry, which took place on March 26 at Shanghai Oriental Art Center; Encountering Impressions and Romantic, a guitar concert on March 31 at Shanghai Concert Hall, featuring French musician Cassie Martin, Spanish guitarist Jose Maria Gallardo Del Rey, and Chinese artist Zhang Xuchen; French Jazz Comedy Trout, scheduled on April 2 at Wanping Theatre; the debut concert of Orchestre de L'Opera Royal de Chateau de Versailles in China, taking place at Shanghai Oriental Art Centeron April 7, a chamber concert of Quatuor Arod at He Luting Concert Hall in Shanghai Conservatory of Music on April 8, and St. Mark Children's Chamber Choir, performing at Shanghai Oriental Art Center on April 12.