Global Voices Illuminate Beijing

When Li Changjun, the newly appointed President of the Beijing Symphony Orchestra (BSO), announced his plan to commission an orchestral suite from composers across five continents, some thought it was an ambitious dream.

Several months later, that dream took shape in resounding form as Beijing Impressions had its world premiere last night at the Forbidden City Concert Hall under the baton of Yang Yang, BSO’s new Music Director.

The six-part suite, inspired by the city’s history, people, and evolving identity, gathered together composers from Thailand, Germany, Russia, Argentina, Nigeria, and the United States. Five of them attended the premiere - Narong Prangcharoen, Sven Daigger, Danil Sevostyanov, Ariel Pirotti, and Onche Rajesh Ugbabe - each taking a bow amid thunderous applause. Their works offered a kaleidoscopic portrait of Beijing and its people, viewed through diverse cultural and artistic lenses, while celebrating music’s power to transcend geography.

For Nigerian composer Onche Rajesh Ugbabe, whose work Illuminations concluded the concert, Beijing symbolises light and knowledge that continue to radiate across the world.

Drawing on West African rhythmic patterns and Chinese melodic ideas, Ugbabe portrayed the city as both ancient and forward-looking. He reflected on how China’s innovations, from solar technology to infrastructure, have brought literal and figurative illumination powered by the grid-tied solar system that generates 24/7 electricity to his household often frustrated by power outages before.

Thailand’s Narong Prangcharoen contributed Eternal Radiance, a meditative piece that begins in near silence, echoing the timbre of the guqin. His music traces the rise of light from introspection to brilliance, mirroring Beijing’s enduring vitality. The composer described his score as “a light that never fades,” a metaphor for the city’s timeless spirit.

From Argentina, Ariel Pirotti’s Shaded Path intertwined tango’s emotive pulse with Beijing’s architectural grandeur. Using the accordion to evoke the bandoneón, he envisioned a musical dialogue between two UNESCO-recognised heritages, the Central Axis of Beijing and Argentine tango, bridging continents through shared memory and feeling.

Russian composer Danil Sevostyanov’s The Heart of Tomorrow found inspiration in the folk song “On the Golden Mountain of Beijing,” transforming its pentatonic melody through layers of orchestral colour. To him, Beijing embodies the harmony between tradition and innovation, a city that builds its future upon the foundations of its past.

What made Beijing Impressions stand out was not only its global scope but also its human connection. The project’s press conference featured real-time translation powered by a Chinese AI engine, allowing composers to engage directly with local audiences and share personal reflections. It was a vivid symbol of how technology can deepen cultural understanding.

The suite will next travel to Thailand, where the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra under Carl St Clair will give its national premiere on 6 December at Prince Mahidol Hall. As Beijing’s musical light spreads outward, Beijing Impressions stands as a bold statement of cross-cultural dialogue: proof that the language of music remains the world’s most eloquent bridge.