Innovative ensembles adapt to life during the pandemic

On Dec 12, the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jing Huan, performed a concert titled The Afterglow of Romanticism at its concert hall in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province.

Featuring violinist Wang Zhijiong, the orchestra performed works such as Polonaise from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35 by the United States composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

Eleven days later, a citywide lockdown was imposed in Xi'an in an effort to curb a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

Guo Rui, brand manager for the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra, said: "It was our last concert before the lockdown, but we never expected the city to remain closed for a month. With all the experience we'd gained in the past two years, we stayed calm and quickly came up with online programs."

Founded in 2012, the orchestra has recruited musicians from around China, most of them younger than 30. In 2020, it used creative ways to engage with audiences as live concerts were canceled due to the pandemic. For example, it streamed a series of concerts online, combining classical music with artworks displayed at museums in Xi'an, which attracted millions of viewers.

To bring classical music closer to the public, the orchestra performs outdoor concerts annually at the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, a Buddhist structure built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Xi'an has a proud history and is no stranger to music, such as folk works and Qinqiang Opera, an ancient high-pitched operatic style. Guo said that since the orchestra was formed, it has built a close relationship with audiences, bringing a different artistic aspect to the city.

The orchestra gives a new year concert annually, but this year the performance had to be switched to online platforms. Chinese-Australian conductor Dane Lam, the orchestra's principal conductor, was scheduled to return to Xi'an from Australia for the concert.

Lam said: "After 28 days' quarantine, we had to cancel the performance, which was very sad. But it's a time when we can come together and reflect on the past year and make plans for the year ahead. We still want to present a sense of togetherness to get us through these tough times."