A symphony of celebration

With the soft morning sunlight illuminating the ancient city of Beijing, a special performance by a brass trio from the Wiener Symphoniker is about to begin at the foot of Yongdingmen's stone wall, one of the historical gates of the old city, located in the southern part of the capital.

The trio, consisting of seasoned musicians — trumpet player Christian Low, horn player Markus Obmann, and bass trombone player Wolfgang Pfistermuller — begins with the timeless Summertime, a classic jazz standard by George Gershwin. The trio continues, improvising and weaving in and out of the familiar melody, fluid and natural like a conversation. The three move effortlessly to the next piece, Invention No 7 by Daniel Muck. The Austrian composer and conductor, known for his diverse works in symphonic, brass and wind orchestra genres, composed this piece specifically for the trio, according to Pfistermuller.

"It's a lovely morning and here we are playing music in this beautiful park. The music flows naturally and the crowds are enjoying it," says Pfistermuller.

The Wiener Symphoniker, one of the world's most prestigious orchestras and celebrating its 125th anniversary, made its Beijing Performing Arts Center debut on Saturday, and performed again on Monday. The two concerts kicked off its nine-day music and cultural exchange tour in Beijing, which includes three performances at the National Centre for the Performing Arts concert hall from Wednesday to Friday.

Under the baton of newly appointed chief conductor Petr Popelka, the orchestra brings the sounds of Vienna to Beijing, intertwining tradition with romantic flair in a concert that fuses East and West, past and present.

On Monday, the orchestra embraced Beijing's urban fabric, engaging in meaningful cultural exchanges through its music.

Besides Yongdingmen, the orchestra's musicians visited two other iconic landmarks along Beijing Central Axis — the Temple of Heaven on Monday and the Drum Tower on Tuesday. These performances served as a unique opportunity to bring music to some of the city's most historic sites, creating an immersive experience outside the concert hall's walls.

"We are happy and proud to have five concerts in Beijing. It's very special for us during our anniversary season. We are celebrating our 125th anniversary with a whole season of highlights, and one of the highlights is our residency in Beijing," says Jan Nast, intendant of the orchestra.

"The idea is to bring different kinds of music to Beijing," he adds, noting that these performances aim to carry forward the legacy of German-Austrian classical music, offering Beijing audiences a taste of Europe's finest orchestral traditions.

During their concerts at the Beijing Performing Arts Center and the NCPA, the orchestra presented iconic masterpieces, such as Wagner's Die Walkure and Mahler's Symphony No 4, showcasing the pinnacle of symphonic art.

Marking the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss II's birth, the orchestra also performed a selection of the composer's most beloved waltzes, polkas and operettas, including Eine Nacht in Venedig (A Night in Venice) and Blumenfest-Polka (Flower Festival Polka), Op 111.

According to Nast, along with the performances by the whole orchestra, soloists also made a significant impact during the trip to Beijing. For example, Peter Dorfmayr, the horn player, took center stage on Saturday, delivering a performance of Richard Strauss' Horn Concerto No 1 in E-flat major. Composed when Strauss was only 18 to celebrate his father's birthday, this piece showcases a lyrical beauty combined with robust heroism.

The orchestra also delved into Mozart's Symphony No 38 in D Major, Prague, a work that holds special significance for conductor Popelka who was born in Prague and trained as a double-bass player, deeply connecting him to the Czech Republic's rich musical traditions.

Making his debut in China with this ongoing tour, he expresses his pride in presenting this piece: "It is indelibly linked to the city of Prague and Mozart's relationship with the Czech people."

The conductor recalls that, even as a teenager, he regularly drove from Prague to Vienna with his parents to listen to the greatest orchestras in the world.

"To me, the Wiener Symphoniker is the musical embodiment of Vienna, an orchestra that captures and evokes the city's spirit, an ensemble with a great tradition but, above all, an orchestra that has always encapsulated a modern, pioneering spirit," he says.

"For musicians who perform every night, it is dangerous for music to become routine or a 'duty'. Some conductors may not emphasize the significance of performing certain pieces at specific venues. I expect to gain inspiration and embrace a variety of ideas," he says. "This is why I took this job. In working with the Wiener Symphoniker, I feel a sense of curiosity within the orchestra, and the joy of music 'being born' together."

Popelka, along with principal artists of the string and brass sections, also visited the China Conservatory of Music on Monday, where they held two master classes. In the evening, the conductor led the student symphony orchestra in a rehearsal of Pictures at an Exhibition, a famous suite of musical compositions by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky.