World-class opera, orchestral music and citywide cultural experiences — Beijing is ready to strike a chord this October.

Running from Oct 9 to 20, the 29th Beijing Music Festival will bring together nearly 700 artists from 32 countries, nine renowned orchestras and 12 main-stage performances. Under the theme “Beijing in Concert,” the festival spans opera, symphonic music, chamber music and cross-genre performances, with more than 20 public-interest activities bringing music into everyday city life.

Five performances to look forward to
A grand opening with Mozart and Respighi
On Oct 9, conductor Charles Dutoit and pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja joined the BMF Festival Orchestra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. The programme paired Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 22 in E-flat Major with Respighi’s Roman Trilogy.

A fresh take on ‘The Magic Flute’
Mozart’s beloved opera will take the stage at the China National Opera House on Oct 10 and 11 in a new production jointly presented by the Beijing Music Festival, Opera Hong Kong, China National Opera House and State Opera South Australia.

An international orchestral line-up
The festival features distinguished artists including conductors Charles Dutoit and Edward Gardner, pianist Gerhard Oppitz, violinists Ning Feng and Antje Weithaas, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra as orchestra-in-residence. The Singapore Symphony Orchestra and other leading ensembles will also participate.

Cross musical borders with Anoushka Shankar
On Oct 14, sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar will perform at Poly Theatre, blending Indian musical traditions with contemporary influences in a programme that offers a different perspective on the festival’s classical focus.

A classical-rock finale
On Oct 20, Chinese rock pioneer Cui Jian will join conductor Yang Yang, pianist Ju Xiaofu and the Beijing Symphony Orchestra for a closing concert that brings rock favourites and orchestral music together.

The 12 main-stage performances
Planning to attend? Consult the festival’s official English performance calendar for all 12 performances, including dates, venues, ticket prices, and availability.
Official performance calendar: https://bmf.org.cn/en/play-list 

• Piano Keys Express Emotions · Rome Resonates in Sound — The 29th Beijing Music Festival Opening Concert
  Friday, October 9, at 7:30 pm
  NCPA Concert Hall
  BMF Festival Orchestra / Charles Dutoit (Conductor) / Elisabeth Leonskaja (Piano)

• Magic Flute Sounds · Love Lost and Found — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The Magic Flute — A New Staged Production
  Saturday, Oct 10, 7:30 pm / Sunday, Oct 11, 3:00 pm
  China National Opera House
  London Philharmonic Orchestra / China National Opera House Chorus & Beijing Philharmonic Choir / Dane Lam (Conductor) / Shuang Zou (Director) / Bing Chen (Chorus Master) / Cast: Anthony Gregory, Sofia Troncoso, John Chest, Aigul Khismatullina, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, and others

• British Sounds Resound· Musical Grace Endures — Edward Gardner  Conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra in Residence — Symphony Concert Series I
  Monday, Oct 12, 7:30 pm
  NCPA Concert Hall
  London Philharmonic Orchestra / Edward Gardner (Conductor) / Liao Changyong (Baritone)

• Fingertip Splendor · Symphony in the Ears — Edward Gardner Conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra — Residency Series II
  Tuesday, Oct 13, 7:30 pm
  NCPA Concert Hall
  London Philharmonic Orchestra / Edward Gardner (Conductor) / Gerhard Oppitz (Piano)

• Sitar Crosses Borders · World in Harmony — Anoushka Shankar and Friends
  Wednesday, Oct 14, 7:30 pm
  Poly Theatre
  Anoushka Shankar (Sitar) / Arun Kumar Ghosh (Clarinet & Keys) / Thomas Walter Farmer (Double Bass) / Sarathy Ashok Korwar (Drums & Percussion)

• Chamber Whispers · Classics Fused — Gerhard Oppitz, Andreas Ottensamer and the Shanghai Quartet
  Thursday, Oct 15, 7:30 pm
  NCPA Concert Hall
  Gerhard Oppitz (Piano) / Andreas Ottensamer (Clarinet) / Shanghai Quartet

• Bows Chase Visions · Mozart’s Grace Prevails — Ning Feng and the Kammerakademie Potsdam: The Complete Mozart Violin Concertos
  Friday, Oct 16, 7:30 pm
  Forbidden City Concert Hall
  Kammerakademie Potsdam / Ning Feng (Violin & Director)

• Handel’s Timeless Art · Caesar Returns — George Frideric Handel: Giulio Cesare (Semi-staged)
  Sunday, Oct 18, 7:30 pm
  Poly Theatre
  China Philharmonic Orchestra

• Concerto & Symphony · Scaling Mahler’s Titan — Hannu Lintu Conducts the Singapore Symphony Orchestra
  Sunday, Oct 18, 7:30 pm
  Concert Hall, National Centre for the Performing Arts
  Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Hannu Lintu (Conductor) / Chloe Chua (Violin) / Ziyu He (Viola)

• Spring Bird @BMF: Emerging Artists Special Concert
  Sunday, Oct 18, 1:00 pm
  Divine Music Administration in Temple of Heaven
  Xiao He (Baroque Cello & Viola da Gamba) / Menglin Gao (Theorbo & Continuo)

• Bows and Keys Converse · Two Voices Harmonize — Antje Weithaas and Kiveli Dörken Perform Mozart’s Sonatas for Piano and Violin
  Monday, Oct 19, 7:00 pm
  NCPA Concert Hall
  Antje Weithaas (Violin) / Kiveli Dörken (Piano)

• Classical Rock · A Grand Finale — The 29th Beijing Music Festival Closing Concert
  Tuesday, Oct 20, 7:30 pm
  NCPA Concert Hall
  Beijing Symphony Orchestra / Yang Yang (Conductor) / Xiaofu Ju (Piano) / Jian Cui (Vocals)

Beyond the concert hall: discover Beijing through music
The festival’s “Travel with Music” initiative connects performances with tourism, culture, shopping, dining and other city experiences.

• Explore the city: Music-themed routes and pop-up activities will bring the festival atmosphere to locations including Chaoyang Park, Taikoo Li Sanlitun and The Box.
• Enjoy music-inspired refreshments: Hyatt Regency Beijing Wangjing will offer four Mozart-themed signature drinks and a “Beijing Evening Breeze” music party, while Kuntai Jiahua Hotel will present festival-themed afternoon tea.
• Find special collaborations: Festival merchandise with McDonald’s and Fujifilm Instax, plus ticket-stub benefits at participating Beijing Gifts stores and other partners, add extra incentives to explore.
• Discover emerging talent: The “Blue Bird Project” will showcase young musicians at the Divine Music Administration of the Temple of Heaven on October 19. Public activities will also include open rehearsals, masterclasses and lunchtime concerts.
• Enjoy music in new ways: Online broadcasts, “Ultra Live” screenings and an ARCFOX “mobile concert hall” experience will extend the festival beyond traditional performance venues.

Check with individual venues and participating businesses for the latest schedules, availability, and offer conditions.

Plan your visit
Dates: Oct 9–20
Venues: National Centre for the Performing Arts, China National Opera House, Poly Theatre and Forbidden City Concert Hall, among others.

The festival is introducing a unified ticketing platform and special offers for students. For ticket availability, concessions and programme updates, consult the official festival website and its announced ticketing channels.

Official website: https://bmf.org.cn/ 
From Mozart and opera to sitar music and symphonic rock, the Beijing Music Festival offers a fresh way to experience the city—through its music, cultural venues and neighbourhoods.