Chicago’s Classical Music Radio (WFMT) released the first preview of the second season of "WFMT Orchestra Series”
On the evening of July 14
th (GMT-5), WFMT, the renowned classical music radio station based in Chicago, once again joined hands with China's National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) to launch the second season of the "WFMT Orchestra Series" radio programme. Featuring distinguished orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the China NCPA Orchestra, the programme transmits exceptional musical performances across the Pacific. Broadcast through radio stations in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, and New Mexico, the series draws a cultural sound map connecting China and the U.S. through the universal language of music.
This season also serves as a prelude to the NCPA Orchestra's forthcoming European tour in August. With music as its medium, the Orchestra will share the richness and romanticism of Chinese culture with the world.
A Flagship Programme Featuring World-Class Orchestras
The multi-episode radio programme jointly produced by the NCPA and WFMT has been broadcast in the United States for the fourth consecutive year.
The series has featured more than 80 acclaimed NCPA symphonic and opera productions. Through syndication on 75 radio stations across 347 U.S. cities, the series has brought a rich and diverse array of Chinese performing arts to an audience of 4.91 million in North America, achieving notable success in international cultural outreach.
Featured Previous Broadcasts: "This Week from China's National Centre for the Performing Arts",
Featured Previous Broadcasts: "the WFMT Opera Series"
National Coverage Span the Entirety of the United States
This season's programme features a curated selection of recent highlights from the China NCPA Orchestra, with a special emphasis on contemporary Chinese composers. ZHAO Jiping's Pipa Concerto No. 2 is lyrical and evocative, YAO Chen's Sentiments: Autumn is rich in poetic nuance, and ZHOU Tian's Broken Ink brims with delicate vitality. The iconic Yellow River Concerto dazzles with grandeur. Western classics shine just as brightly—Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 is monumental, the Concierto de Aranjuez enchants with its Spanish charm, and enduring works by Ravel and Saint-Saëns, striking chords deep in the soul. The programme seamlessly integrates Eastern and Western musical traditions, offering American audiences an immersive and transcendent listening experience. It also serves as a musical overture to the NCPA Orchestra's upcoming performances in Europe—an artistic journey told through notes and infused with emotion.
NCPA Orchestra
To provide American audiences with deeper insight into the artistry of the NCPA Orchestra, this season includes exclusive interviews with three prominent Chinese conductors. Through their reflections, listeners are invited to explore the philosophical and cultural depths behind the music, as well as the aspirations for the future of symphonic art in China.
LÜ Jia (Artistic Director of Music, NCPA)
"The symphony and opera are idealistic media for cultural exchanges linking the East and the West. Chinese music not only has its beautiful melodies, but also contains the cultural heritage and the essence of thousands of years of Chinese civilization. Through symphonic music, a universal language, we can let the world better experience the broadness and depth of Chinese music."
XU Zhong (President, Shanghai Opera House)
"China's symphonic and operatic landscape is thriving, with a continuous emergence of outstanding works. As a national-level ensemble, the NCPA Orchestra bears the responsibility of promoting China's cultural legacy. Through the platform of WFMT, we are building a bridge that connects Chinese tradition with global audiences."
LAI Jiajing (Assistant Conductor, NCPA Orchestra)
"The episodes selected to perform on stage is a process of writing history. I hope to explore more excellent works, especially by contemporary Chinese composers, and present their works to the world to tell Chinese stories."
WFMT Head of Programming and Operations Roger Wight looks forward to this new series: "We are honoured to continue our relationship with the National Centre for the Performing Arts and we're thrilled to share four new programs of outstanding NCPA performances as part of the WFMT Orchestra Series. Hearing these concerts from some of China's top orchestral musicians is a unique opportunity for American audiences, and we know listeners are looking forward to these exciting new programmes. NCPA represents the highest level of artistry, and we are proud to showcase the China NCPA Orchestra's performances of Chinese traditional music and important works by Chinese composers along with wonderful interpretations of classics from the international symphonic cannon."
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