The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra will host the annual Music in the Summer Air despite the epidemic, saying that music is important to maintaining cultural exchanges in times of crisis.

Music in the Summer Air, an annual music event hosted by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, will take place from July 20 to 29.

According to Zhou Ping, director of SSO, the orchestra had to overcome great difficulties to make MISA happen.

"Overseas musicians are not able to come in, and each concert will be attended by no more than one-third of the full capacity of the venue," she says.

"But life has to go on despite the pandemic. The city can't have a summer without music."

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra conductor Yu Long shares the same sentiment and recalls an earlier conversation he had with renowned cellist Yo-yo Ma.