Swiss orchestra generates an unrepeatable musical energy

The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande gave a captivating performance at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Thursday, marking the opening of Roam About the Classics 2025 — a concert series presented by the NCPA that brings together 10 top symphony orchestras from around the world for 13 performances through July 30.

Led by conductor Jonathan Nott, the orchestra presented an ambitious program featuring Igor Stravinsky's Petrushka and Maurice Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major in the first half, followed by Stravinsky's groundbreaking The Rite of Spring in the second.

The concert also commemorated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland.

Founded in 1918, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande has earned an international reputation through its historic recordings and interpretations of 20th-century French and Russian repertoire. The Beijing concert was part of the orchestra's ongoing Asian tour.

"The beauty of a concert lies in the musicians and the audience who, together, make it complete," said Nott, the orchestra's music director. "We throw energy together and create something that can never be repeated."

"My job is to control the flow of energy," he continued. "The musicians generate it and the audience responds with their energy, which is why I must sense what both are doing at the moment."

Nott first visited Beijing in 2007, performing with renowned pianist Lang Lang. Over the past two decades, he has returned to China multiple times, experiences which he says have allowed him to "feel the change, the development, and the joy that classical music brings to people".

For this concert, Nott and the orchestra were joined by Chinese American pianist George Li to perform Ravel's colorful and exuberant Piano Concerto in G Major, in celebration of the composer's 150th birthday.

"This is my first time performing with maestro Nott and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande," said Li, who won the silver medal at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition at 19.

Born in Boston to Chinese parents, 4-year-old Li began studying the piano. "My parents didn't study music, but they love classical music," he shared. "My older sister plays the piano, so from the time I was born, there was always music in the house."

He recalled being drawn to the piano at age 4, admiring great pianists and attending their concerts, which also inspired him. "Things changed when I was around 10 or 11," he said. "Before that, music was a hobby — something I enjoyed. But then it became more meaningful. I started to feel emotions through music, and from then on, I knew I wanted to play the piano."

Li gave a solo recital at the NCPA in 2023 and returned in 2024 to perform with the Munich Philharmonic under conductor Tugan Sokhiev.