Chongqing - When someone mentions symphonies or musicals, your brain might flash images of tuxedo-clad elites sipping champagne in stuffy halls. But hold that thought, Chongqing’s got a spicy rebuttal to such stereotypes. 

On March 25th, the city’s iconic Chongqing Grand Theatre presented "Two Rivers Symphony, Musical Dances in Chongqing City", which declared that classical music and dance are not just for the ivory tower crowd anymore. "Who said orchestras can’t rock?" laughed Miss Feng, a 27-year-old designer and first-time attendee, "Never thought that symphonies could be fun and cool."

The event was organized by the Chongqing Culture and Tourism Group. The event featured the official establishment signing ceremony and inaugural performance of the Chongqing Grand Theatre Art Troupe and Symphony Orchestra, coupled with a thematic conference titled "Empowering Chongqing Tourism through Cultural Performances."

Signing Ceremony for the Establishment of Chongqing Grand Theatre Art Troupe and Chongqing Grand Theatre Symphony Orchestra (Photo/Qihai Deng)

When Chongqing vibe meets synth beats

The Chongqing Grand Theatre Symphony Orchestra is a brand new crew rewriting the rules of symphonic swagger. Originally known as the 1016 Symphony Orchestra with 50+ virtuosos packing woodwinds, brass, percussion, and "color instruments", they’re no strangers to 30+ awards globally and trophies. "We’re not just playing Western classics," said Qiu Ye, Artistic Director of the Chongqing Grand Theatre Art Troupe, "We’re remixing Chongqing’s rivers culture and the spicy hotpot energy into every scene." 

Qiu Ye, Artistic Director of The Chongqing Grand Theatre Art Troupe, conducted interviews with the media at the event. (Photo/Qihai Deng)

Under the guidance of renowned conductor Yu Hai (Chairman of the China Wind Music Association) and artistic director Ma Jintuo, the performance opened with the majestic Alvamar Overture, a Western brass classic delivered with precision, its soaring crescendos echoing the grandeur of Chongqing’s skyline. Yet the true showstopper was Stone Carvings’ Sacred Echo, a dance poem that merged percussive rhythms and silk-clad dancers reenacting scenes from the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings. The piece transformed 1,000-year-old Buddhist artistry into a living, breathing spectacle, with multimedia projections casting ethereal shadows of ancient stone Buddhas onto the theater’s walls.

Stone Carvings’ Sacred Echo performed by Chongqing Grand Theatre Art Troupe and Chongqing Grand Theatre Symphony Orchestra (Photo/Qihai Deng)

The inclusion of Black Myth: Wukong’s soundtrack—a fusion of traditional guzheng zither and electronic beats—resonated deeply with all Gen-Zs around, while nostalgic renditions of Beyond’s "Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies (Hai Kuo Tian Kong)" sparked spontaneous sing-alongs across generations.

Voices from the audience showcasing real spirit

"Imagine hearing the Suona, an instrument I associate with village weddings, played alongside a full brass section. It was chaotic, creative, and so uniquely Chongqing style," shared one attendee after the show. Younger audiences also raved about the Black Myth: Wukong segment, calling it "tonight’s real deal" and "Greatest of all time since 1986," while symphonic rearrangements of the pop song by Beyond moved older listeners. "They took songs from my youth and made them sound different yet cherished, very new to me," remarked one middle-aged guest, "The way they blended Buddhist culture with modern dance wasn’t just a performance, I thought they were interpreting the Chongqing people’s spirits."

Main theme of Black Myth: Wukong performed by Chongqing Grand Theatre Symphony Orchestra (Photo/Qihai Deng)

Bridging Chongqing to global culture

This showcase wasn’t just about entertainment; it also rebranded Chongqing as a global cultural hotspot through music and art. Beyond its artistic performance, the event marked a giant leap in Chongqing’s quest to become an international cultural destination since last year’s #ChinaTravel travel rush on overseas social platforms. The orchestra’s play was deliberately crafted to serve as both entertainment for local people and an ambassadorship for foreign visitors. Pieces like Stone Carvings’ Sacred Echo and Bashu Wedding Ruckus are not standalone performances but part of a culture exchange to embed these works into Chongqing’s tourism ecosystem. For global tourists, this means more than just an Instagram-like show to watch in this so-called “Cyberpunk City”; it is also a gateway to Chongqing locals' cultural life behind music and art performances. 

According to Mr Ran Bin, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Chongqing Culture and Tourism Group, the Grand Theatre Symphony Orchestra’s prior performances at the Yangtze River Three Gorges International Tourism Festival and the Chongqing International Folk Arts Festival have drawn praise from diplomats and UNESCO representatives. With upcoming collaborations to soundtrack international documentaries about Southwest China’s heritage and a proposed "Symphonic Food Tour" pairing concerts with local culinary experiences, Chongqing is positioning its arts scene as a magnet for culturally curious travelers worldwide.

Night view of Chongqing on the Grand Theatre (Photo/Visual Chongqing)