The Closing Gala Concert of the fifth Beijing Music Festival was held in the Poly Theater on November 1 and 2. When the last note of Drinking Song, performed by Yao Hong, Liang Ning, Mo Hualun, Liao Yongchang and Liu Huan, sounded in the hall, audience gave out thunderous applause, making the theater a place of carnival.

This year's festival was held on October 11 to November 2, with a total of 25 concerts including operas. In the original program schedule, Canadian tenor Daniel Taylor withdrew at the last moment due to personal reasons, resulting in the cancellation of Daniel Taylor & Hu Wenge Concert, which disappointed lots of audiences. Performances with strong appeal included the concert of Chinese renowned pianist Lang Lang with New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Lorin Maazel, Ye Xiaogang Composition Concert named Chinese Passion, Chen Qigang Composition Concert named Butterflies Lingering over Flowers, and the Closing Gala Concert. High-level artistic performances that experts thought highly of included Berlin Philharmonic's wind quintet, Leon Fleisher & Joseph Silverstein Concert, the concert given by Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lu Jia, and world-renowned soprano Kathleen Battle's recital. The Shantou City Government worked with the Central Conservatory to present a special concert -- the Chaozhou Folk Music Concert. This was the first time for a local government and a school to build up a folk trade mark jointly.  Presented during the opening ceremony, the Mahler Symphony No.8, also known as Symphony 1000, set a record of largest number of performers in one show. The concert with most world-renowned Chinese musicians and singers was the Closing Gala Concert.

Although the Closing Gala Concert was divided into two parts, the performers and the list of compositions of these two parts were nearly the same, different only in the pianist, with Chen Sa playing in the first day's concert and Li Yundi playing the second. Tickets of the two-day Closing Gala Concert sold out just as what happened to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Organizing staff had to place some folding chairs since audience outnumbered the seating capacity. In the concert, China Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yu Long performed harmoniously with shining super stars, including Wang Jian, Xue Wei, Chen Sa, Li Yundi, Yao Hong, Liang Ning, Mo Hualun, Liao Yongchang and Liu Huan. The audience impartially gave their applause to every performer. Liu Huan, the last performer, sang Biezt's Flower Song, one famous aria in opera Carmen in French. He then sang Neng Yuhua's Azalea and then Nessun Dorma from Turandot with tenor Mo Hualun. Liu Huan finally joined with others to sing Drinking Song. At the same time, baritone Liao Yongchang and soprano Liang Ning played the role of Alfredo and Violetta. At this moment, one could not distinguish between different arts of singing and voice parts, and everybody enjoyed a jolly time.

(Source: Music Weekly)