Under the baton of chief conductor Xu Zhong, the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra launched its 2025-26 season with a concert on Saturday, featuring Richard Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra, Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder, and Stravinsky’s The Firebird (1919 version). Soprano Zhou Xiaolin joined the performance, which highlighted the late Romantic era and early 20th-century compositions.

Xu Zhong remarked on the significance of the opening concert, noting the complexity and spiritual depth of Strauss’ work and his personal connection to Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder following a recent performance of Tristan und Isolde. This season, the orchestra will present 40 performances, including symphonic concerts, master series, and chamber music, aiming to integrate global artists and offer a diverse classical music repertoire.

The season will feature international and domestic conductors and soloists, such as Samy Rachid, Enluis Montes Olivar, and Victor Jacob, who will collaborate with the orchestra for the first time. Returning musicians include conductors Zhang Guoyong and Li Biao, cellist Li-Wei Qin, and baritone Shen Yang. Renowned artists like violinist Viktoria Mullova, pianist Stepan Simonian, and soprano Catherine Foster will also perform.

The "Masterpieces of Music" series will showcase classical music from the Baroque to contemporary avant-garde, including a celebration of Ravel’s 150th anniversary with a special concert of his works. In April 2026, the orchestra will present Wagner’s operatic excerpts and revisit iconic works by Mozart, Mahler, and Shostakovich, exploring the evolution of classical music through various historical periods.

Xu Zhong expressed enthusiasm for exploring the music of Ravel and Wagner, noting Ravel’s attention to detail and Wagner’s emotional intensity. Chamber music performances will feature artists from different generations, with Xu, also a pianist, performing alongside young and seasoned musicians in a program featuring Mozart, Faure, and Brahms. The concert, titled Xu Zhong and His Friends, aims to highlight artistic dialogue across generations.

The Suzhou Symphony Orchestra will also perform Shengshi Fanhua (Blossoms of Suzhou Age), an original piece by three generations of Chinese composers, as part of its national tour. Additionally, the orchestra will perform Zhou Long’s new piece, Grand Harmony, commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Founded in 2016, the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, one of China’s youngest symphonies, unites musicians from 18 countries across four continents and has toured globally since its inception.