On November 13^th, the Inauguration of World Association for Performing Arts & Beijing Forum for Symphonic Music 2023 will take place at the NCPA. Established under the initiative of the NCPA, WAPA is an international, professional, and non-profit organisation with an independent legal personality. Its mission is to build an open multilateral platform, promote outstanding works of performing arts on the international stage, facilitate the integration of technology with performing arts, and advocate for mutual learning and shared prosperity among diverse civilisations. The WAPA regularly holds events such as the Beijing Forum for Performing Arts, the Beijing Forum for Symphonic Music, and the NCPA Taihu International Stage Art Forum. Its members are encouraged to cooperate in various ways. Currently, the WAPA consists of 30 member organisations from 19 countries across five continents.

A press conference for the Inauguration of World Association for Performing Arts & Beijing Forum for Symphonic Music 2023 was held at the NCPA

On November 7^th, a press conference for the Inauguration of World Association for Performing Arts & Beijing Forum for Symphonic Music 2023 was held at the NCPA. ZHU Jing, Vice President of the NCPA, ZHOU Yu, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the China National Symphony Orchestra, and ZHANG Yi, Music Director of the National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra, attended and addressed the press conference.

ZHU Jing, Vice President of the NCPA

ZHU Jing, Vice President of the NCPA, expressed, “After three years of online communication, this event brings together many distinguished representatives in the industry for face-to-face dialogues with our global colleagues regarding future development. Over 260 participates from 187 international art institutions in 30 countries and regions worldwide will convene at the NCPA with dual objectives: firstly, to witness the inauguration of the WAPA as a registered international organization, and secondly, to advocate for mutual learning for the development of symphonic music.”

Symphony, as an art form, transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries, garnering widespread appreciation and global inheritance. Serving as a vital cultural link, it communicates common human emotions and spiritual pursuits, fostering building a community with a shared future for mankind. As one of the “three forums” under the WAPA framework, Beijing Forum for Symphonic Music has been held successfully twice, and become a grand event in the global performing arts circle. Adhering to the tenet of building a community with shared future for the sustainable development of symphonic music, the participants would communicate on an equal footing for deeper cooperation and friendship. Fruitful results have been achieved in the previous two sessions. From November 13^th to 14^th, the Third Beijing Forum for Symphonic Music will be held as scheduled.

With the theme “Reaching for Innovation, Sharing for Prosperity”, this year’s Forum features three topics - “Aesthetic Education in relation to Audience Engagement”, “New Talents and New Works: A Contemporary Vision for Symphonic Music”, and “Cultivating Artistic Platforms for Mutual Enrichment”. As a global professional symphonic music forum that has attracted much attention of the industry, the event has received active response from the world’s top orchestras and arts institutions. Representatives from the world-renowned orchestras and arts institutions, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Philharmoniker, New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Munich Philharmonic, and Verbier Festival, as well as artists and industry representatives from Chinese arts institutions such as the Central Conservatory of Music, China Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Opera House, China National Symphony Orchestra, China NCPA Orchestra, etc., will deliver speeches and hold discussions at the Forum. They will narrate compelling stories and exchange cutting-edge ideas, fostering a deeper connection between Chinese and international arts institutions while propelling the global development of symphonic music.

ZHOU Yu, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the China National Symphony Orchestra

ZHOU Yu, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the China National Symphony Orchestra, remarked, “The diversity of civilizations promotes communication, fostering mutual learning, and boosting further development. Symphonic music, being a universal art form, necessitates the exchange and mutual learning among different orchestras and artists for common advancement. The NCPA has extended invitations to world-renowned arts institutions and artists in the industry for this event. Since its establishment, the China National Symphony Orchestra has been committed to advancing the development of symphonic music in China by presenting Chinese works and cultivating Chinese composers. It is imperative to promote Chinese works to enable the world to comprehend the culture and spirit of our country and nation.”

ZHANG Yi, Music Director of the National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra

ZHANG Yi, Music Director of the National Ballet of China Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra, emphasized, “In recent years, the number of symphony orchestras in China has grown significantly. Meanwhile, there has been a concerted effort to commission more works, bolstering China’s cultural confidence in the realm of symphonic music. The advancement of symphonic music in China requires the creation of works recognized globally. It is crucial for us to introduce Western works while showcasing Chinese compositions to the world. This Forum offers a great opportunity. I hope our exchanges will help to stimulate new vitality of symphonic music.”

Keynote speeches scheduled for the morning of November 13^th will be broadcast live on various media platforms, including the NCPA Classical Music Channel, and globally streamed on the official website of the WAPA. On the afternoon of November 14^th, three parallel sessions will take place, where participants will collaboratively engage in in-depth discussions on frontier issues related to the development of symphonic music.

Notably, on November 12^th, representatives of the WAPA members will visit the Beijing Arts Centre and NCPA Taihu Stage Art Centre. With the new operation model of “a performing arts centre with three locations”, the NCPA is poised to collaborate with its colleagues in shaping a brighter future for the global performing arts industry.

Photos by LIU Fang