Northern highlights

"In the past few years we have presented heavyweight productions that reflect the main theme of our times, as well as lighthearted chamber concerts that are popular with young audiences," Luo says.

Among the highlights for the 2018-19 season will be a concert production commissioned from Shanghai-based composer Huang Lei.

Under the title, The Common Home, Huang will bring together signature music styles and instruments from around the globe to create a concert about "the destiny of all humanity".

"Social development has caused serious environmental issues, and this is a problem we all face," Huang says. "We are all in it together, and I want to address the topic by combining traditional Chinese instruments with folk music from all over the world."

Together with musicians from the SHCO, Huang is making extensive studies of folk music from around the world in an attempt to find musical elements that would suit being performed on Chinese instruments, while looking for foreign instruments that would fit well with a Chinese orchestra, Huang tells China Daily.

For example, the traditional Chinese stringed instrument guzheng shares a similar quality of sound with the sitar, an instrument used widely in traditional Indian and Middle Eastern music.

"A conversation can be achieved between these instruments and the music styles," he says. "I am working closely with musicians at the SHCO to explore all kinds of possibilities."

The new production is scheduled to premiere on Nov 3, during the China Shanghai International Arts Festival.