The Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra kicks off its 2024-2025 season on Sept 8 with the concert Strings of My Heart. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

The Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra kicked off its 2024-2025 season on Sept 8 with the concert Strings of My Heart.

Conducted by artistic director Yang Yang, the event featured violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley and included performances of two newly commissioned works, alongside Mahler's Symphony No 1 Titan.

The evening began with Wuxia, a tribute to Chinese martial arts novels and the legendary author Jin Yong. The concert also featured a Violin and Viola Concerto by Grammy-nominated composer Zhou Tian, followed by Mahler's powerful symphony, bringing the audience on a journey through nature, philosophy, and life's grandeur.

Chinese violinist Yao Shanshan (in red) joins her husband Noah Bendix-Balgley for an all-violin performance. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]