Symphony under the stars in Xi'an

The Xi'an Symphony Orchestra's outdoor concert at the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, a historical landmark in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, was staged on Sept 20.

The orchestra was led by Zhang Guoyong, who served as the music director and chief conductor this year. He was joined by tenor Shi Yijie, soprano Wu Tongyu, and suona musician Zhang Qianyuan, as well as the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the Xi'an Concert Hall Children's Choir.

The evening began with Dmitri Shostakovich's Festive Overture, which opened with grand and exuberant melodies. The classical Chinese piece Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, composed by Ren Tongxiang and performed with the suona, evoked the majestic imagery of birds singing and the phoenix spreading its wings as it comes to life. Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture pushed its emotional intensity to its peak. Shi's renditions of the Chinese songs I Live at the Head of the Yangtze River and My Motherland and I expressed deep national pride.

These classical works, which highlighted Eastern and Western traditions, offered a spectrum of world music.

Since its inception in 2012, the outdoor event has been held annually for 13 consecutive years. The event is not only a cultural highlight for Xi'an, but also a benchmark for public art projects nationwide. Each autumn, symphonic music meets the ancient city landscapes, allowing more people to fall in love with classical melodies and making Xi'an's urban culture more vibrant through music.