Next stage of recovery

Liu studied music at Utrecht Conservatorium in Holland and Michigan State University in the United States. As the first formal music director, and the chief conductor, he rebuilt the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra to its professional status and programmed 80 concerts around the world every year. Because of the viral outbreak, the annual Wuhan International Piano Festival, which Liu founded in June 2011, has been postponed until September.

"We will go step by step to resume live performances during the second half of the year. With the warm feedback of the audiences to our online concerts, which started in January, we could feel their eagerness to enjoy music."

The other highlights of the shows being staged at the Wuhan Qintai Concert Hall include a string quartet called Chuci, named after a collection of poetry, also known as Songs of Chu, written by Qu Yuan, a poet from the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), and a trio from Wuhan, as well as a vocal concert performed by local singers.

According to Wang, since the pandemic, over 200 shows have been canceled, including Broadway musical The Lion King, which was scheduled for a 70-show run at the theater from February through April.

"Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Wuhan became the center of the country and garnered lots of attention. We've received lots of support from other theaters across the country," says Wang, adding that both the Wuhan Qintai Concert Hall and the Wuhan Qintai Grand Theater are under the management of Beijing Poly Theater Management Co, a theater chain that has over 70 member venues across the country. "With their help, we've provided our audience with online programs since February. So far, we have staged 124 online concerts."

In August, the two venues will stage a series of live performances for children, with low ticket prices and limited seating.

Since June 26, seven Wuhan-based art theaters have restarted staging live performances, including the Wuhan People's Art Theater, the Wuhan Peking Opera Company and the Wuhan Acrobatic Troupe.