Festival brings return of global talent

"I am happy to go back to the NCPA again, which I have long looked forward to. Over the years, we have built a strong and joyful relationship with the NCPA and we have shared many great music moments, which remain in our hearts," said Buchbinder in a video sending his greetings to Chinese audiences. "For a very long time, I have been performing Beethoven's music, which has been a personal journey for me. These works have accompanied and occupied me for years, and are known for their complexity and beauty. They are deeply human."

On May 21, French violinist Renaud Capucon will give a concert featuring work by French composers, such as Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Cesar Franck.

Cellist Wang Jian, who has been active in the global music scene for decades and returned to his home country this year to teach at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, will play three pieces of Bach's suites for unaccompanied cello on May 27, which will close the festival.

Besides classical music, fusions of traditional Chinese and contemporary music such as jazz will be staged at the festival.

Veteran Chinese musician Zhang Weiliang, who specializes in playing traditional Chinese musical instruments, such as the bamboo flute, xiao (a vertical bamboo flute) and xun (one of China's oldest wind instruments), will perform with China NCPA Orchestra on May 18.

On May 24, the Beijing Chinese Orchestra will put on a chamber music concert, featuring musicians playing traditional instruments such as the erhu (two-stringed bowed instrument), pipa (Chinese lute), and drum.

"When we first held the May Festival in 2009, chamber music was not popular among Chinese classical music fans. With more and more people enjoying classical music, they are also becoming more open to chamber music, which provides an intimate atmosphere and experience," says Wang Luli.