A guided urban tour inspired by a symphonic work

Language

Culture

2025.10.21 15:52 GMT+8

A guided urban tour inspired by a symphonic work

Updated 2025.10.21 15:52 GMT+8

CGTN

Pre-registered audience members for a concert at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on October 20, 2025 embark on a unique musical journey through the city's urban landscape. Each audience member was assigned a randomly selected audio track on their smartphones, offering a sonic fragment of the symphony titled "City of Floating Sounds."/Photo provided to CGTN

The "City of Floating Sounds," recently staged in the neighborhood surrounding China's National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing, redefines the concert experience through an innovative fusion of technology, urban exploration, and participatory performance. Composer Huang Ruo, whose "distinctive style" has been celebrated by the New York Times, invites audiences to engage with the music via a custom mobile app. This interactive guide leads listeners on a journey through the city, where they encounter unique sonic fragments of the composition, creating an immersive and dynamic listening experience.

A cornerstone of the UK's classical music scene, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra premiered Huang Ruo's "City of Floating Sounds" last year.

A guided urban tour inspired by a symphonic work

RELATED STORIES