Listening to a world-class classical music concert to celebrate the New Year may appeal to some, especially when it is the renowned Philharmonia Orchestra led by Andrew Davis.

This year's Beijing New Year Concert starts at 10:40 pm on December 31 at the Great Hall of the People and the audience will hear the sublime sounds of Beethoven's "Symphony No 7" when the midnight bell tolls.

The programme also includes Glinka's "Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture," Rossini's "William Tell Overture" and Johann Strauss's "Voices of Spring." Violinist Ning Feng, tenor Fan Jingma and Mexican soprano Eugenia Garza are among the star performers.

The Beijing New Year Concert will present well-known young Chinese pianist Li Yundi performing Liszt's "Piano Concerto No 1." The Philharmonia Orchestra is acknowledged as the UK's foremost musical pioneer and one of the world's great orchestras. Davis is one of Britain's leading conductors.

Li and Fan also enjoy great popularity among the Chinese audience. This year's Beijing New Year Concert will be a feast for Beijing's classical music lovers.

The price of the ticket will also hit a new record, with the highest "super VIP" ticket costing 2,800 yuan (US$345), including a buffet and a CD of Li's new album of Liszt's music. The lowest ticket costs 200 yuan (US$25).

According to Gao Ranran, from the Beijing Artists Management Corporation, which is presenting the 2007 Beijing New Year Concert, the high ticket price was attributed to the cost of bringing the famous orchestra to China.

Gao said most of the lower-price tickets for the two concerts have been sold out.

The Beijing New Year Concert was founded in 1997, and has been held every New Year Eve at the Great Hall of the People since then. The orchestras of Israel, Britain and Russia have performed.

(China Daily December 26, 2006)