Soprano Wang Lida performs "Future of Guangming," an original piece composed for Guangming Science City.

On May 11, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SZSO), led by conductor Zhao Xiao'ou, an associate professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, joined forces with renowned soprano Wang Lida and baritone Sun Li for a captivating open-air concert at Guangming District's scenic Minghu Park. Over 20,000 attendees gathered amidst the spring greenery to enjoy the performance.

The program showcased a vibrant mix of Chinese and Western classics. Chinese selections included Nie Er's lively “Dance of the Golden Snake," adapted from a folk melody; the poignant "Velvet Flowers" from the film "Youth"; the internationally beloved "Jasmine Flower"; and the Cantonese folk music gem "Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon." Western highlights ranged from the spirited "Toreador Song" (from Bizet's "Carmen") and Suppé's "Light Cavalry Overture" to Fučík's rousing ""lorentiner March” and the iconic overture from Rossini's "William Tell."

A standout moment came when soprano Wang Lida performed "Future of Guangming," an original piece composed for Guangming Science City. With lyrics by Tian Di and music by Shu Nan, the song celebrates the area's natural beauty, scientific achievements, and cultural vitality, mirroring the community's pride in this innovation hub.

The audience responded with thunderous applause, demanding five encores — including "Can-Can," "Raise Your Red Veil," and "Radetzky March" — before the night concluded.

The concert marked the finale of the third season of the "Voice of Guangming" symphony series, a government-supported initiative enriching the district's cultural scene.