The Beijing Music Festival, to begin on Oct 8, will have a unique program to mark its 20th anniversary. It will feature 29 performances, including three operas and children's concerts, lectures and masters-classes in three weeks. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Though some of the world's leading musicians believe that China is the future of classical music, Yu and Li both say that what China's classical music scene needs is more music works.

Yu says: "We have few choices of Chinese works when we tour abroad, except for the violin concerto Butterfly Lovers or the folk song Jasmine. We need contemporary works."

To ensure this, since the first BMF in 1998, the duo have staged a program every year devoted to original works by Chinese composers.

As a result, Tan Dun, Guo Wenjing, Zhou Long, Ye Xiaogang, Chen Qigang and other Chinese composers who have enjoyed fame in the Western world, have all presented their works at BMF.

On Oct 16, the Beijing Symphony Orchestra will perform a concert featuring an all-Chinese program comprising Guo Wenjing's Lotus, Zhang Qianyi's Yunnan Capriccio Orchestral Suite and Zhou Long's Beijing Rhyme－Symphonic Suite for Orchestra.

And at the closing concert on Oct 29, the China Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the world premiere of Chen Qigang's La Joie de la souffrance for Violin and Orchestra. Maxim Vengerov will play the violin for the piece which was commissioned by the Beijing Music Festival.

"A Chinese work played by a China orchestra featuring an international soloist. It's a nice way to have the Chinese voice heard by the world," says Yu.

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