On December 31, Vice President Xie Yuan attended the 21st Beijing New Year’s Concert at the Great Hall of the People. Co-produced by the CPAFFC, Beijing State-owned Assets Management Co.,Ltd. and Beijing Beiao Group, this concert featured the 84-year-old Polish composer and conductor Krzysztof Penderecki, Beethoven Festival Orchestra, and Chinese pianist Wu Muye..

Before the performance, Vice President Xie met with the conductor. He extended his warm welcome to Mr Penderecki heading the orchestra on their visit to China. He thanked them for bringing a world-class concert of Beethoven’s music to the audience in Beijing, and appreciated the efforts they made for the friendship and artistic exchanges between Chinese and Polish people. 

As a tribute to Beethoven on the eve of the year that marks the 190th anniversary of his death, Penderecki selected a vast repertoire of his masterpieces - Creatures of Prometheus, Symphony No 4 in B-flat Major Op.60, Piano concerto No 5 in E flat Op. 73, and Symphony No 7 in A major. Cooperating with Pianist Wu, he also sent new year greetings with a Chinese piece Ode to the Red Flag to the delight of the audience.