To the future

Famous composer Tan Dun begins the new year with a cocktail of classical and rock music. Chen Jie reports.

Composer Tan Dun gave his first concert of the year by performing with two Chinese rock bands in Beijing to show not just how open he was to different kinds of music but also to present his vision of the future of classical music in China.

On Saturday, Tan conducted the National Symphony of China to play along with the bands Hanggai and Reflector, and singer-songwriter Song Dongye at the Great Hall of the People. The show was part of a project by Pilot Music, a Chinese rock music label.