Xinghai Concert Hall goes all out in 20th anniversary celebrations

The Xinghai Concert Hall in Guangzhou launched celebrations for its 20th anniversary on May 15 with Ludwig Van Beethoven's Symphony No 9, performed by WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne and conducted by Jukka Pekka Saraste.

The opening week will also feature the Vienna Flute Mozartet, Finland's vocal group Club for Five, Britain's The King's Singers, violinist Shlomo Mintz, and the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ton Koopman.

The year-long celebrations will also include the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Zurich Chamber Orchestra and Berlin Philharmonic String Quintet.

Famous conductors Christian Thielemann, Yuri Termikarnov, Franz Welser-Most, Jaap Van Zweden, and Andres Orozco Estrada will grace the concert hall as well.

Other featured musicians will include violinists Daniel Hope and Leonidas Kavakos, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and pianists Lang Lang and Rudolf Buchbinder.

Traditional Chinese music masters, including erhu player Wang Guotong, pipa player Wu Yuxia, guqin player Zhao Jiazhen, and guzheng player Wang Changyuan, will also join the celebrations.

Programs will include opening-day events, the summer music fairy tale season, and the Guangzhou Jazz Music Festival.