The China NCPA Chorus, one of the most iconic resident ensembles of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, has unveiled its 2026 season with the theme of "Heartbound".

Jiao Miao, the managing director and resident conductor of the choir, says the China NCPA Chorus will celebrate its 17th birthday this year, entering what she describes as the ensemble's "prime artistic season". She emphasizes the chorus' continuous dedication to perfecting its sound and exploring new artistic horizons, while striving to balance the traditions of classic choral music with bold innovation.

The 2026 season will feature nearly 30 concerts, spanning a range of genres and themes, aimed at bridging the gap between the past and the present.

Five distinct concert series, each offering a unique flavor to the musical journey, will be introduced to the audience, including "NCPA Classics", a newly introduced category that brings back the choir's most beloved and well-rehearsed performances; "Master Series", featuring collaborations with two prestigious conductors; and "Choral Theater", a category that brings immersive choral theater experiences combining choir, drama, literature, and stage design.

"From years of audience feedback, we really feel that in today's fast-paced world, it's both rare and precious for a concert, or even a single piece of music, to allow listeners to slow down and be genuinely moved. At last year's anniversary concert, our original work, Our Song, brought many audience members to tears. In that moment, music became a bond connecting the stage and the auditorium," says Jiao, who has been with the chorus since its inception. "Those moments of shared emotional resonance are precisely what we strive for."

In 2026, conductor Wu Lingfen will return to the stage of the NCPA, joining the chorus to perform Songs from the Earth, presenting a series of choral arrangements based on folk songs from various regions of China.

"As a music teacher, I have had many opportunities to travel around the country, which have allowed me to encounter many elderly artists singing folk songs. For example, when I went to Shaanxi province, I watched local people singing folk songs and yangge dance teams performing for three days and nights, which were incredibly moving," says Wu, 81, who was the cofounder and former resident conductor of the China NCPA Chorus. "Just last week, I went to various regions of Yunnan province to explore ethnic choral traditions.

"I plan to use our chorus' unique strength to present this vibrant folk music and cultural heritage from different regions of China. These folk songs are our treasures — they are what allow us to enjoy the lives we have today. These songs reflect the joy of ordinary people singing about their new lives in the streets, in the fields, and along rivers. The key is that they preserve the ancient voices of the people," says Wu, who will conduct a concert during the new season in November, performing choral pieces adapted from folk songs including The More We Sing, the Deeper Our Love Grows; Beyond the Horizon; and The Ballad of Ox Mountain.

Besides the five main concert categories, the chorus will continue to showcase its dual proficiency in both concert and opera performances. Highlights include Long March Suite, which will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Long March, an epic strategic retreat by the Red Army of the Communist Party of China that took place from 1934 to 1936.

The chorus will also participate in several NCPA-produced operas, including Red Sorghum and Aida.

Since the year 2026 marks the 270th anniversary of Mozart's birth, the choir will stage a concert version of Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) as a tribute. The chorus will sing in Chinese and be complemented by a vivid narration, allowing audiences to easily understand the characters and comedic essence of the work.

In addition, this new season will expand the "Weekend Concert" series in scale, building a deeper connection with the audience, according to Jiao.

"We always see ourselves as a bridge, connecting audiences with the concert hall and the broader world of art. We hope that this series serves as a starting point for people's musical journeys, encouraging them to immerse themselves in the enduring beauty of music," she says.