Beijing’s autumn music calendar just got considerably busier.
The 29th Beijing Music Festival (BMF) will take over the capital from October 9 to 20, bringing nearly 700 artists from 32 countries, 9 orchestras and ensembles, 12 major performances, and more than 20 public events to venues across the city.
And despite Mozart providing the musical thread running through this year’s festival, the program stretches well beyond the classical canon.
Mozart Turns 270
2026 marks the 270th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, and his music will appear throughout the festival.
Opening night on October 9 brings conductor Charles Dutoit and pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja to the National Center for the Performing Arts, joined by the specially assembled Beijing Music Festival Orchestra.
The program pairs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.22 in E-flat major with Respighi’s spectacular Roman Trilogy.
Another major Mozart night sees violinist Ning Feng taking on two jobs at once – soloist and conductor – as he joins the Kammerakademie Potsdam to perform Mozart’s complete violin concertos in a single evening.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra, this year’s orchestra-in-residence, will also give two programs under principal conductor Edward Gardner.
2 Operas, 2 Very Different Worlds
Opera gets two substantial outings.
On October 10 and 11, Mozart’s The Magic Flute comes to the Central Opera House in a new co-production involving Opera Hong Kong, State Opera South Australia, Beijing Music Festival and the Central Opera House.
Directed by BMF Artistic Director Zou Shuang, the production relocates Mozart’s German-language fantasy into an Eastern urban setting, with the London Philharmonic performing live under conductor Dane Lam.
Then, on October 18, Handel’s Giulio Cesare arrives at Poly Theatre in a semi-staged production with the China Philharmonic Orchestra, stripping back elaborate scenery to put the voices and orchestra front and center.
Then Things Get Less Classical
One of the festival’s most intriguing bookings comes on October 14, when sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar opens her China tour at Poly Theatre.
The multiple Grammy-nominated musician has spent much of her career moving between Indian classical traditions and contemporary global music – making her appearance one of the clearest signs that BMF is looking beyond the traditional concert hall repertoire.
And the festival saves perhaps its biggest curveball for last.
The October 20 closing concert is titled Classical Rock, with conductor Yang Yang leading the Beijing Symphony Orchestra alongside young pianist Ju Xiaofu and Cui Jian, one of the defining figures of Chinese rock.
Yes, Cui Jian with a symphony orchestra.
Music Beyond the Concert Hall
BMF also wants this year’s festival to spill out across Beijing.
Alongside performances at the National Center for the Performing Arts, Central Opera House, Poly Theatre and Zhongshan Park Music Hall, activities are planned for locations including Sanlitun, Chaoyang Park and Taihu Performing Arts Town.
Pop-ups, music parties, markets and a new ‘Travel with Music’ program are planned, while ticket holders will be offered benefits through participating hotels, restaurants, museums, and other businesses.
The festival is also preparing its first unified ticketing platform, along with discounted-ticket initiatives and a special joint ticket with the Capital Museum.
So for now, mark October 9–20 in the calendar.
Once tickets go live, the harder question will be deciding between Mozart, Handel, Anoushka Shankar and Cui Jian with an orchestra.
[All images via Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center]
