Melodic bliss in Belt & Road Intl. Music Festival

The 2023 Shenzhen Belt and Road International Music Festival kicks off this weekend, providing a total of 59 performances across the city through the end of October. We have selected some featured shows and more can be found on the festival’s website www.szbarmf.com. The schedule is subject to change.

A poster for the 2023 Shenzhen Belt and Road International Music Festival. Photos from the event organizers

Shenzhen Concert Hall

Warsaw orchestra, Chen Sa

Award-winning Chinese pianist Chen Sa will join hands with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra to play Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 1.” With Jacek Kaspszyk as the conductor, the orchestra will also play Dvořák’s “Symphony No. 9” and Penderecki’s “Adagietto.”

Time: 8 p.m., Sept. 10

Angela Gheorghiu

Celebrated Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu will sing classic Western opera songs accompanied by pianist Jeff Cohen.

Time: 8 p.m., Sept. 12

Tchaikovsky symphonies

Classical music fans will have a rare chance to enjoy all six of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies presented by the Tchai

kovsky Symphony Orchestra from Russia. Vladimir Fedoseyev and Denis Lotoev will wield the baton.

Time: 8 p.m., Sept. 23 (symphonies 1, 6); 3:30 p.m., Sept. 24 (symphonies 3, 5); 8 p.m., Sept. 24 (symphonies 2, 4)

Posters for Angela Gheorghiu's concert and the Tchaikovsky symphony concerts.

Philharmonix

Philharmonix is an ensemble featuring members of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic. The group is synonymous with “entertainment” and breathes fresh life into great musical works by blending jazz, rock, pop and other elements into classical music.

Time: 8 p.m., Sept. 30

Katherine Jenkins

Welsh mezzo-soprano singer and songwriter Katherine Jenkins, known for her crossover music style, will show off her powerful voice at a concert accompanied by pianist Katherine Rockhill.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 8

Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra

Iranian-born conductor Alexander Rahbari, who has been appointed as a permanent guest conductor at the Mariinsky Theater, will lead the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra to perform Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5” and Dvořák’s “Cello Concerto in B Minor.” German cellist Niklas Eppinger will be soloist.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 12

Vadim Repin

Russian violinist Vadim Repin will collaborate with pianist Svetlana Smolina to play pieces by Debussy, Grieg and Franck.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 15

The Swingles

The Swingles, a renowned a cappella vocal group that originated in 1962, will show their unique and innovative sound by blending classical music with jazz and pop elements.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 22

Philharmonix, Katherine Jenkins, Vadim Repin, and the Swingles.

Miloš Karadaglić 

Miloš Karadaglić, a talented classical guitarist from Montenegro, will play pieces by Bach, Couperin, Weiss and others. He has gained international recognition for his virtuosic and expressive playing style.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 28

Bruce Liu

Chinese-Canadian pianist Bruce Liu, who won first prize at the 18th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in 2021, will play pieces by Bach, Chopin, Kapustin, Rameau and Prokofiev.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 29

Booking: WeChat account “szyyt_piao”

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音乐厅)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D

Bay Opera of Shenzhen

Ballet on ice

The Saint-Petersburg State Ballet on Ice will combine classical dance and figure-skating in “The Sleeping Beauty” and “Swan Lake.”

Time: 8 p.m., Sept. 20-22 ("The Sleeping Beauty"); 3 p.m., 8 p.m., Sept. 23-24 ("Swan Lake")

'Sanxingdui: The Musical’

Performed by the Sichuan Opera and Dance Theater, the Chinese musical “Sanxingdui” is inspired by the ancient Shu Kingdom archaeological site, Sanxingdui, and tells a story about love, faith and inheritance.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 20-21, 3 p.m., Oct. 21-22

Booking: WeChat account “深圳滨海艺术中心”

Venue: Bay Opera of Shenzhen, Bao’an District (深圳滨海艺术中心)

Metro: Line 5 to Baohua Station (宝华站), Exit A

Posters for "Sanxingdui: The Musical," "The Sleeping Beauty" and "Swan Lake."

Shenzhen Poly Theater

Ballet ‘A Dream of Red Mansions’

The National Ballet of China will present ballet show “A Dream of Red Mansions” adapted from the classic Chinese novel of the same name.

Time: 8 p.m., Sept. 14-15

Dance ‘Wing Chun’

The Shenzhen-produced dance show “Wing Chun,” which combines an elegant dance with Wing Chun, a traditional Chinese martial art, will be staged.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 26-29

Booking: WeChat account “SZpolytheatre”

Venue: Shenzhen Poly Theater, Nanshan District (深圳保利剧院)

Metro: Line 2 or 11 to Houhai Station (后海站), Exit E

Posters for "A Dream of Red Mansions" and "Wing Chun."

Guangming Culture and Art Center

Huun Huur Tu

Tuvan band Huun Huur Tu will stage a concert, playing traditional instruments and utilizing throat singing, whistling and various vocal techniques to recreate the sounds of nature.

Time: 8 p.m., Sept. 23

Vienna Boys’ Choir

The world-famous Vienna Boys' Choir will enchant locals with their beautiful voice.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 13

Posters for Huun Huur Tu's and Vienna Boys' Choir's concerts.

Béjart Ballet Lausanne

Béjart Ballet Lausanne will present a contemporary ballet show which combines traditional ballet with elements of modern dance and multimedia.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 13-14; 3:30 p.m., Oct. 15

Dance ‘Samsara’

“Samsara” is a duet dance created and performed by Hu Shenyuan from China and Aakash Odedra from the U.K..

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 28; 3:30 p.m., Oct. 29

Booking: WeChat account “GuangmingArtCenter”

Venue: Guangming Culture and Art Center (光明文化艺术中心)

Metro: Line 6 to Fenghuang Town Station (凤凰城站), Exit B

Béjart Ballet Lausanne (top) and a scene from "Samsara" (bottom).

Longgang Cultural Center

Gerhard Oppitz piano recital

German pianist Gerhard Oppitz will present pieces by Schubert and Liszt.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 9

Babylonian Gurdjieff Ensemble

The Babylonian Gurdjieff Ensemble’s music is a unique blend of Eastern European, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian folk influences, and it is often characterized by its meditative and spiritual qualities.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 21

Venue: Longgang Cultural Center (龙岗文化中心)

Metro: Line 3 to Longcheng Square Station (龙城广场站), Exit D

                         A poster for the Babylonian Gurdjieff Ensemble concert.

Sky Concert Hall

Symphonic suite

The Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra will play “The Prosperity and Auspiciousness Symphonic Suite” based on a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) painting which depicts the beautiful scenery of the prosperous times along the Silk Road.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 1

Arabic Maqam Ensemble

Enjoy classical Arabic music with a modern approach presented by the Maqam Ensemble which was established by Syria-born violinist Maias Alyamani in 2006.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 27

Venue: Sky Concert Hall, inside One Shenzhen Bay, Nanshan District (深圳湾一号内鹏瑞云颂公益音乐厅)

Metro: Line 2 to Dengliang Station (登良站), Exit A

                A poster for the Arabic Maqam Ensemble concert. 

Other theaters

Stephen Hough

British pianist Stephen Hough will present piano pieces by Liszt, Debussy, Scriabin and others.

Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 17

Booking: WeChat account “cmskpac”

Venue: Mountain View Theater, inside the Sea World Culture and Arts Center, Nanshan District (海上世界文化艺术中心内境山剧场)

Metro: Line 2 or 12 to Sea World Station (海上世界站), Exit A

A poster for the Stephen Hough concert. 

‘Titanic: The Musical’

“Titanic: The Musical,” a Tony Award-winning production, centers on the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of the Titanic passengers who boarded with their stories and ambitions, unaware of the tragic fate awaiting them.

Time: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 25-29 (Oct. 28-29 also at 2:30 p.m.)

Booking: WeChat account “PingShanTheatre”

Venue: Pingshan Theater, Pingshan District (坪山大剧院)

Metro: Line 14 to Pingshan Square Station (坪山广场站), Exit D

A poster for "Titanic: The Musical."