The world's oldest classical record label "Deutsche Grammophon" marked its 120th anniversary with an evening concert at the historic Forbidden City in Beijing.
The event was also part of the opening celebration of the 21st Beijing Music Festival. The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, who joined the label in June this year, was also invited to perform.
In front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and under the baton of conductor Yu Long, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra opened the evening with Chinese composer Liu Tianhua's "Enchanted Night".
Conductor Yu Long performs onstage during the evening concert for the 120th anniversary of the classical record label "Deutsche Grammophon" in the Forbidden City, Beijing, China, October 10, 2018. /VCG Photo
The event was witnessed by hundreds of specially-invited Chinese and international dignitaries. The repertoire included Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto.
The last time the palace played host to a classical music concert was in 2001 when the Three Tenors – Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, and the late Luciano Pavarotti – performed before a crowd of 30,000.