On November 26^th, “Beijing Forum for Symphonic Music 2019” held by the NCPA kicked off in Beijing. Themed “Integration & Development”, the forum discussed the opportunities and challenges in the development of symphonic music by keynote speeches and parallel forums with nearly 200 guests from orchestras and art institutions of 14 countries and regions coming together.

WANG Ning, President of NCPA and Secretary of the NCPA Party Committee, stated in the opening keynote speech: “First, it is our common mission to pass down excellent cultural legacy. Second, exchanges and mutual learning are the common wishes of colleagues from around the world. Third, it is our common responsibility to respond to the demands of the times.”

Since its founding in 2007, NCPA has engaged in deep collaborations with orchestras and artists around the world and has built a solid friendship with them in the developing process of jointly promoting symphonic music. On the basis of years of practice, President WANG Ning pointed out that the development of symphony has to take root in cities. It is crucial to adhere to artistic works of extraordinary quality. We must build a benign mechanism of artistic innovation. And we must introduce new means of communication and promotion.

“Symphonies are more needed in today’s world. The power that has sustained symphonic music in the past hundreds of years mainly comes from the music’s longing for a better future, reflection on destiny, and attitude towards peace and war, towards the polite and well-mannered and the opposite”. For the construction of a solid symphonic community of shared future, President WANG Ning made three proposals: First, deepen exchanges and mutual learning; second, increase efforts in the popularization of symphonic music; third, continue to seek integration and innovation.

NCPA President WANG Ning addressed at the forum.

Representatives have delivered insightful speeches at the Forum, including YE Xiaogang, Chairman of the Chinese Musicians' Association, NCPA Music Director LÜ Jia, Valery Gergiev, Artistic Director of the Mariinsky Theatre, André Gremillet, President & CEO of The Cleveland Orchestra, Michael Haefliger, Executive and Artistic Director of Lucerne Festival, James Williams, Executive Chairman of Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Hideki Nishihama, Executive Chairman of Association of the Japanese Symphony Orchestras, Eduardo Mendez, Executive Director of The National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela, Violinist Siqing Lu, Abraham (Avi) Shoshani, CEO of Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Ferdinand von Strantz, General Adviser of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

On November 27^th at China World Hotel, participants will probe in-depth around four issues, i.e., “Symphonic Music and City”, “Audience Development and Art Education”, “Symphonic Music and Technology” and “The Development of Orchestra and New Works”. During the Forum, student representatives from two middle schools in Beijing will perform classic string music pieces, such as The Butterfly Lovers, to present the unique charm of Chinese culture to foreign guests. The Forum will lower the curtain on November 28^th.