Beijing Music Festival to feature extensive range of genres

Various musical genres, including rock, will be staged at the 15th Beijing Music Festival, an event traditionally focused on classical music, festival organizers said Tuesday. The festival, to be held from Oct. 9 to Nov. 2 under the theme of "Music For You," will cross music boundaries by featuring a range of music genres, organizers said. Festival-goers will be able to enjoy classical music by renowned European performers as well as performers from other genres, such as American soft rock legend Michael Bolton. Bolton will join hands with the China Philharmonic Orchestra for a solo concert and then conclude the festival with China's Three Tenors, Dai Yuqiang, Mo Hualun and Wei Song. World-famous pianist Rudolf Buchbinder will also participate in this year's festival, bringing fans his performances of Beethoven's works, including the Moonlight Sonata. For the first time, the venue will be held in Sanlitun, a famous bar street in downtown Beijing, in the hopes of attracting younger audiences, organizers said. Established in 1998, the Beijing Music Festival is held each fall in Beijing, and features concerts, operas and musicals.