The Beijing Music Festival has become an annual event eagerly anticipated by classical music fans since it was launched six years ago.

Although last spring's SARS epidemic adversely affected preparation for the event, organizers have gone to great lengths to ensure the sixth festival will showcase rich programmes and shining stars from October 17 to November 5.

"We want to tell the world that it is still Beijing's golden autumn; the sunshine here is bright and people are happy and healthy," said artistic director Yu Long.

This year's festival consists of 16 programmes, including a concert of Chinese traditional music, a presentation specially arranged for children, a piano recital, two operas, a concert opera, three chamber concerts and seven symphonic presentations.

"As our usual practice, the symphonic concerts structure the main part of the festival," said programme director Zeng Wei. "Chinese traditional music is one of the signature features, the concert for the kids shows our concern about the future of classical music, and the choice of opera displays the artistic quality of the festival." Added Yu: "The structure of a music festival is somehow fixed, and what people expect is its content. The choices of the programmes, the orchestra and the artists reflect the level of the festival."

The Sixth Beijing Music Festival will see the China premiere of Guo Wenjing's two chamber operas "Yeyan (Night Banquet)" and "Kuangren Riji (Diary of A Mad Man)" at Poly Theatre on October 19 and 20.

Both works, written in the 1990s, won wide international acclaim after being performed in Europe, the United States and Australia.

"It's a pity that the two Chinese operas made their debut overseas and starred foreign vocalists," said Yu. "That makes their China premieres with an all-Chinese crew and cast more meaningful."

The production is directed by renowned theatre director Lin Zhaohua. The sets are designed by Zeng Li, whose credits include Zhang Yimou's opera "Turandot" and the ballet "Raise the Red Lanterns."

The two operas also star Chinese sopranos Wu Bixia and You Hongfei, tenors Fan Jingma and Gong Dongjian, Peking Opera actor Jiang Qihu and pipa player Zhao Cong.

This marks the first time the Beijing Music Festival has produced Chinese opera. It also highlights the Chinese characteristic of the event, which in the past two years featured symphonic and chamber works from internationally acclaimed composers Tan Dun, Chen Qigang and Ye Xiaogang. The other opera is an international production of Mozart's "Die Zauberflote" at Poly Theatre on October 28 and 29.

"It's difficult to stage this opera, for it needs 14 vocalists instead of the usual three or four," said Yu.

He said it took organizers two years to negotiate with La Scala Opera House to have the production join this year's festival, but as a result of the SARS outbreak, La Scala postponed its Beijing visit.

"It only took us three days to invite the multi-national artists for 'Die Zauberflote'," Yu said. "That's really incredible."

According to the latest information, another prestigious Italian opera house, Venice-based La Fenice (Phoenix), will give two concerts featuring arias at Poly Theatre on October 31 and November 1.

The three chamber concerts will be at least the equal of the symphonic presentations.

The celebrated Gindon Kremer's violin will echo Andrius Zlaby's piano; the London Chamber will play Mozart, Haydn and Elgar, cooperating with violist Vera Tus Wei-ling; and the Shanghai Quartet's "Beethoven Circle" will join with the Beijing Women Quartet to play Chinese folk music.

Traditional Chinese music is not the mainstream of Beijing Music Festival, but demands highbrow taste of the genre.

At the ancient-style Dongyuan Theatre on October 22, guqin master Li Xiangting will present his improvisation on the theme of ancient Chinese poetry.

Aiming at being an innovative festival, the Beijing Music Festival introduces new works to the domestic audience every year.

This year, people will see the China premiere of John Corigliano's "Red Violin Chaconne" and Schostakovich's "Violin Concerto No 2 in C sharp minor," in addition to Guo's two operas.

Apart from the programmes, the festival's overall oranization has been greatly improved.

The Funds Management Board and the International Advisory Board have been established, and The Friends of Philharmonic club attached to the Festival has begun registering members. The festival has also established an award for "Musician of the Year."

"With all these efforts, we are anxiously aiming to achieve a new height for the already well established Beijing Music Festival," said Yu.

Deng Rong, vice-chairperson of the China Association for International Friendly Contact, has been appointed chairperson of the festival's 14-member international advisory board, while Serge Dumont, a veteran strategic adviser and director for major multi-national companies, serves as the vice-chairperson.

"The board will provide useful experience in building the Beijing Music Festival into a top world festival," said Dumont.

"I have no doubts that as Beijing readies for the 2008 Olympic, the Beijing Music Festival will develop into an indispensable fixture in the cultural scene of the country, and by then will attract an even larger audience."

(China Daily October 15, 2003)