The Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO) will present a program of German and Austrian classics under the baton of maestro Yu Long on Saturday. Young pianist Li Zhongxin and soprano Zhang Meigui will be the soloists.

Yu Long. Photos courtesy of SZSO

Yu currently serves as artistic director of the China Philharmonic Orchestra and music director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. He is also principal guest conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the founder of the Beijing Music Festival.

The concert opens with Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll.” This gentle and translucent piece was a private gift Wagner composed in 1870 for his wife's birthday, blending motifs from the opera “Siegfried” with the German folk song "Sleep, Baby, Sleep."

Next comes Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor,” a milestone marking the composer’s transition from his early style to his middle "heroic" period. In 1803, while suffering from hearing loss and emotional turmoil, Beethoven used this concerto to express his determination to fight against fate. Pianist Li Zhongxin, a graduate of Juilliard who is currently pursuing further studies at Yale School of Music, won first prize at the 2025 International Piano Week in Portugal.

Li Zhongxin.

The second half features Mahler’s “Symphony No. 4 in G Major,” a work created while the composer immersed himself in the tranquil beauty of the countryside. Although its premiere sparked controversy for blurring the boundaries between classical and popular music, over time the symphony has become widely recognized as Mahler’s most beloved orchestral work. Among his ten symphonies, it is the smallest in orchestration, the simplest in structure, and one of the few described as radiant, sunny, and gentle.

Soprano Zhang Meigui.

Soprano Zhang serves as the orchestra’s artist-in-residence. She studied at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music under Professor Zhou Xiaoyan, and earned her master’s degree from Mannes School of Music in New York. In 2019, she won the highest honor at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, the Prix Yves Paternot. In 2020, she received the Audience Favorite Award at the Glyndebourne International Opera Competition, as well as prizes at the New York Opera Elite International Vocal Competition and the Premiere Opera International Vocal Competition. She performs regularly on both opera and concert stages worldwide.

Time: 8 p.m., May 16

Tickets: 80-880 yuan

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音樂(lè)廳)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宮站), Exit D