Performing Arts in China

A night of musical brilliance lit up the 15th Qintai Music Festival on Oct 24! German violin virtuoso Antje Weithaas took the stage as both soloist and conductor, joining the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra for an all-Mendelssohn concert. From the sweeping Hebrides Overture to the lyrical Violin Concerto in E Minor and vibrant Italian Symphony, the evening celebrated the timeless magic of Mendelssohn’s music.

The 14th Lancang-Mekong Countries Culture and Arts Festival opened on Wednesday in Jinghong, Yunnan province. Artists from across the region gathered under the theme “One River, One Family”, showcasing their countries’ distinctive artistic traditions in a vibrant opening gala that celebrated cultural diversity, exchange and friendship among Lancang-Mekong nations.

From Oct 23 to 26, the 16th Wuhan International Acrobatic Arts Festival brought together 20 outstanding acts from 14 countries, showcasing world-class skills and creative innovation. Since its launch in 1992, the festival has welcomed over 400 acts and more than 3,200 artists from 60 countries and regions, making Wuhan a vibrant meeting place for acrobatic arts and cultural exchange. @WuhanPlus

Tradition meets modernity in Kunming! At Yunnan’s 13th Traditional Sports Games of Ethnic Minorities, dancer Yuan Zhiping led a captivating Jingpo sword dance to the rhythm of Munao Zongge, a traditional Jingpo festival featuring communal dancing. Blending powerful movements with cultural heritage, Yuan follows his viral performance at the Dianchao soccer league closing ceremony in July.

The second China Showcase of Classic Stage Productions opened on Tuesday with the Peking Opera The Female Generals of the Yang Family at Nanjing Poly Grand Theatre in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. Running through Nov 12, the showcase features 10 classic productions, including The Peach Blossom Fan and Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy, alongside pop-up performances, campus activities and public performances.

Art meets urban life at Shanghai’s Grand Gateway 66! The mall wrapped up its anniversary celebration on Sunday with Bandaloop’s breathtaking vertical dance, River in the Sky, performed 40 meters above the ground, and the China debut of Sara Shakeel’s dreamlike crystal installation, Crystal Dune. Alongside exclusive offers from 280+ stores, the celebration brought art, imagination and everyday beauty into the heart of the city.

Moby Dick, presented by Düsseldorf Theatre, made its Asian premiere at Shanghai West Bund Theatre on Oct 23. Wilson’s visionary adaptation transforms Melville’s classic through striking visuals, choreographed movement and live music, with songs by Anna Calvi. As his fifth work presented in Shanghai, it honors the legacy of a groundbreaking theater artist.

Through a dream and a poem, we glimpse the lifelong devotion to poetry, wisdom, and the beauty of life of scholar Ye Jiaying (Florence Chia-ying Yeh, 1924-2024). Her poem, A Dream, depicts a cactus blooming without being watered — a symbol of resilience and the quiet strength to flourish amid adversity. Life may be like a dream, but pursuing what we value and sharing the beauty of Chinese poetry give it lasting meaning.

Running through Nov 15, the 25th China Shanghai International Arts Festival brings nearly 400 performances and exhibitions, alongside 1,100 citywide events. With a new opera house, an expanded international arts network spanning 53 countries and regions, and a three-year theater revitalization plan, Shanghai is strengthening global cultural exchange, nurturing new talent and championing original productions.

Renowned choreographer Lucinda Childs’ Dance (1979), performed by the Lyon Opera Ballet, made its China debut at Shanghai’s Shangyin Opera House, opening Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels on Oct 14-16. Created with composer Philip Glass and visual artist Sol LeWitt, this minimalist masterpiece blends geometric movement, hypnotic rhythms and striking visual projections. The Lyon dancers bring remarkable precision, muscular energy and lightness to its timeless choreography.

The original Broadway musical Chicago will bring its dazzling jazz, sharp satire and seductive intrigue to Beijing this November. Set in the scandal-driven 1920s, this iconic show exposes how fame, media manipulation and ambition can blur the lines between crime and celebrity. Don’t miss this timeless musical sensation at the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center on Nov 12-15! [Photo/Official WeChat account of Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center]

From a five-minute sensation to a full-length stage production! Jinli: The Ascent, inspired by koi fish symbolizing good fortune and prosperity, blends Chinese classical and contemporary dance with cutting-edge stage technology to explore dreams, resilience, joy, and freedom. Created by China Media Group and Beijing Dance Academy, the dance drama will premiere at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Nov 28 and 29, with a China-wide tour planned for 2027.

Music is bringing #Switzerland and #Hainan closer! The Geneva State Wind Orchestra will perform two concerts at the Hainan Center for the Performing Arts on Oct 23 and 24. Audiences can also enjoy a flash mob performance at Haikou’s Cloudscape Library on the morning of Oct 24. Beyond the stage, the visiting Swiss musicians have already toured Lingshui and Sanya, where they staged flash mobs and held a charity concert. They will also engage with Hainan’s intangible cultural heritage practitioners, deepening cultural exchange through music and traditional arts.  #GlobalHainan #HainanEvents #GenevaStateWindOrchestra

🎭 Love, power, and passion take center stage! On Oct 18, Handel’s semi-staged opera Giulio Cesare made its grand debut at Poly Theatre during the Beijing Music Festival. Before the performance, audiences met the creative team to explore the opera’s artistic vision, the beauty of Baroque arias, and Handel’s musical genius. From Caesar to Cleopatra, this timeless masterpiece offered opera lovers an unforgettable journey into the magic of early music! [Video/Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center]

From Mozart to Chinese rock, the 29th Beijing Music Festival ended on a high note on Oct 20! Led by conductor Yang Yang, the Beijing Symphony Orchestra joined young pianist Ju Xiaofu and rock pioneer Cui Jian for an unforgettable musical journey, blending classical masterpieces with the raw energy of rock. Across 12 concerts, the festival celebrated musical diversity and generations of talent, bringing fresh sounds to Beijing’s autumn.

On Oct 16, acclaimed dance artist Yang Liping’s grand stage production Pingtan Impression captivated the audience in Fuyang, Anhui province. Her eighth major production and the third in the “Impression” series blends traditional folk and maritime cultures with dance, music, puppetry, stunning stage design, and cutting-edge visual effects across five chapters.

Chinese pianist Ju Xiaofu received the Young Musician Award at the 29th Beijing Music Festival on Oct 19. His journey from a festival debut in 2020 to international recognition reflects his remarkable talent and dedication. At the closing concert, he joined conductor Yang Yang, the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, and rock pioneer Cui Jian in a performance featuring Chopin and a tribute to Mozart’s 270th birth anniversary.

The 15th Qintai Music Festival opened on Oct 16 at Wuhan Qintai Concert Hall with soprano Wang Lida and the China National Traditional Orchestra. Bringing together artists from 30 countries and regions, the festival features world-class performances, traditional Chinese arts, and free concerts at iconic city landmarks, celebrating music as a festival for all. The festivities will run through Nov 13! @WuhanPlus

On Oct 14, one of the most dazzling highlights of the Beijing Music Festival — the Anoushka Shankar and Friends Special Concert — took to the stage at the Poly Theatre. As part of this year's festival, a dedicated masterclass with Anoushka Shankar was also held. The session delved into the raga rhythms of the sitar and the essence of Indian classical music, offering face-to-face exchanges on creative insights and performance techniques. On the evening of the performance, the lilting sitar strains resonated throughout the theatre, transporting audiences beyond the concert hall into the vast landscape of world music. #BeijingMusicFestival #AnoushkaShankar #Sitar