Pianist Tony Siqi Yun performs at the concert, Forbidden City Concert Hall, Beijing, Nov 11, 2018. [Photo by Fu You/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

When most Chinese people were happily filling their shopping baskets on the annual shopping festival on Nov 11, a group of musicians from the China Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) did something different.

They gave a performance at the Forbidden City Concert Hall at the balmy evening on that day. The concert, a part of the CPO's 18th season, brought as much joy to classic music lovers as shopping brings to others.

One of the most influential Chinese female conductors Zhang Jiemin, conducted Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's Die Hebriden, Op. 26 and Frederic Chopin's Piano Concert No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11.

Tony Siqi Yun, 17-year-old pianist, who was named the 2018 champion at the "Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition" in Cleveland, played the well-known note from Chopin.

Conductor Zhang Jiemin (left) and pianist Tony Siqi Yun practice before the concert. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn ]

The piano concerto was composed by young Chopin when he was only 20-year-old.

Yun, also with young people's high spirit yet sensitive mind, gracefully conveyed the romantic beauty and peace in the note. His elegant style and perfect skill soon won the hearts of audiences as the sound of piano began.

When he finished the last note, thunderous applause seemed to echo the applause for the concerto's debut on Oct 11 in 1830.

In fact, the Piano Concert No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, was first played during one of Chopin's "farewell" concerts before leaving Poland.

Coincidentally, after the performance, Yun will soon return to New York to go on his piano study at the Juilliard School's Pre-College Division. The young pianist acquired excellent skills at the Middle School Affiliated to the Central Conservatory of Music, and also never missed academic studies at Dulwich College Beijing.

During the rehearsal. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn ]

Though participating in the CPO's music festival for the first time, Yun has worked with the Orchestra twice. One was in 2014, at the 'Silk Road' New Year's Concert co-hosted by the CPO and China Central Television, and the other was a tour in Shanghai in 2016.

"China Philharmonic Orchestra is one the most outstanding orchestras, and it's my honor to work with them," the young artist told China Daily website.

"The members are very strict and the sound it gives is always extravagant yet elegant. Really enjoy the experience to perform with them."

The orchestra also featured Chicago-based soprano Kaori Williams who performed Maurice Ravel's Sheherazade and Jacques Ibert's Divertissement. Born in Tokyo, the artist also had a Chinese name for her: Wei Lianxiang.

The next performance from the CPO will be staged at the Forbidden City Concert Hall on Nov 16. Yu Long, CPO's artistic director and chief conductor, will conduct two works from Ludwig van Beethoven.

Click here to know more about young pianist Tony Siqi Yun.

Contact the writer at lihongrui@chinadaily.com.cn

Pianist Tony Siqi Yun (left) and conductor Zhang Jiemin pose for a photo at the Forbidden City Concert Hall, Beijing, Nov 11, 2018. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

If you go:

The Forbidden City Concert Hall

Zhongshan Park, Beijing

Tel: 65598285; 65598306