China National Symphony Orchestra Marks 70th Anniversary with Major July Celebrations

The China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO), formerly known as the Central Philharmonic Society, is marking its 70th anniversary this July with a rich series of commemorative events in Beijing.

In 1956, the Central Philharmonic Society (中央乐团) was founded based on the orchestra of the Central Song and Dance Group (中央歌舞团). About 2 dozen former students of the Nanking State Conservatory Junior Program formed the core of the de facto national symphony of the People’s Republic of China. Among them, at least 6 were students of Ferdinand Adler, former concertmaster of the Shanghai Municipal Orchestra (now the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra) in the 1940s. Through its fast development in the 1950s, with many collaborations with Soviet and Eastern European artists, its struggles during the 10-year Cultural Revolution, and its revitalizations afterwards in the late 1970s and 1980s, all the way to its reorganization and renaming to the China National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO), the Central Philharmonic Society played a pivotal role in preserving and developing classical music in China.

As the announcement states, the celebrations begin on July 5 at the Beijing Concert Hall, with a special historical exhibition that allows the audience to “revisit 70 years of glorious journey”. That evening, the orchestra presents a 70th Anniversary Choral Concert conducted by Wang Linlin and Ji Yujue, featuring the CNSO Chorus, the Youth and Women’s Chorus, retired artists, and pianists Cheng Yan, Li Yue, Li Shuman, Shi Wei, and Huang Wenjuan. The program includes classics such as The Yellow River Contata.

On July 7, veteran artists including pianists Wu Wenjun, Sheng Yuan and Wei Danwen, singers Li Chujian, Li Ke, Hu Bo, and violinist Xue Suli take the stage in a special tribute performance at the Beijing Concert Hall, presenting works such as  Song of Nostalgia by Ma Sicong and Zigeunerweisen by Pablo de Sarasate. Two days later, on July 9, the orchestra unveils the blueprint for its new home in Chaoyang District, a landmark event considered a vital link between the orchestra’s past achievements and future vision. On July 10, the CNSO hosts a retrospective and development forum at its rehearsal hall, reflecting on its artistic achievements and future direction.

The centrepiece of the anniversary celebrations is the grand symphonic concert on July 10 at 19:30 at the Beijing Concert Hall. Nine distinguished former and guest conductors — Jing Huan, Zhang Yi, Tang Muhai, Tan Lihua, Hu Yongyan, Shao En, Chen Xieyang, Li Xincao, along with current music director Lan Shui — share the podium, joined by former Central Philharmonic concertmaster violinist Liu Yunzhi and pianist Liu Shikun. The program spans from traditional Chinese repertoire such as The Butterfly Lovers, Moon Reflected in the Second Fountain, to Western orchestral classics, including the fourth movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. On July 11, the orchestra announces its 2026/27 season, inviting music lovers to explore new highlights and initiatives.

Beginning July 1, the CNSO also opens its decorated rehearsal hall in Chaoyang District, encouraging the public to visit the anniversary exhibits, take photos, and celebrate the ensemble’s legacy. Together, these events honor seven decades of artistic achievement while charting an ambitious path forward for one of China’s leading classical music institutions.

(Title photo: Old rehearsal hall and management office of the Central Philharmonic Society, under reconstruction)

Note: photos courtesy of the China National Symphony Orchestra Wechat channel.