The Beijing Music Festival, to begin on Oct 8, will have a unique program to mark its 20th anniversary. It will feature 29 performances, including three operas and children's concerts, lectures and masters-classes in three weeks. [Photo provided to China Daily]

In 2005, it took 15 hours over four nights for The Ring Cycle premiere in China.

This year, BMF has co-produced Die Walkure with the Salzburg Easter Festival.

In 1967, the first Salzburg Easter Festival presented Richard Wagner's The Ring of the Nibelung, also known as Ring Cycle, conducted by Herbert von Karajan (1908-89).

This year, to mark the 50th anniversary of the festival, the Bulgarian director, Vera Nemirova, has produced Die Walkure, one section of the cycle, based on the original version of Karajan.

"This revival not only brings back the historical Karajan creation, but poses questions as how the play is to be reinterpreted for our time," says Yu.

The Beijing production will feature an international cast and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Jaap Van Zweden.

Meanwhile, to mark the 190th anniversary of Beethoven's death, the BMF has invited The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bermen to perform all nine of Beethoven's symphonies.

"Beethoven is no stranger to Chinese audiences. And when talking about classical music, most people focus on Beethoven, Mozart or Tchaikovsky.

"And Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony are very popular.