Civilizations around the world have been celebrating the start of each new year for at least four millennia. Today, we celebrate this special occasion with parties, special foods, fireworks displays, and of course, concerts that feature lively and nostalgic repertoires.
Here we list seven concerts, each with its unique appeal, that will usher in the new year for local music fans.
A poster of the One Voice Children's Choir concert.
One Voice Children's Choir
Consisting of 180 talented juniors aged between 5 and 18, the One Voice Children's Choir based in Utah, the United States was founded in 2002, when the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City not just showcased the region's natural splendor to a global audience but introduced to them its diverse cultural scenes.
With over 4.8 million subscribers and 1.2 billion views on YouTube, the choir has become a household name today, known for their heartwarming harmonies and dynamic original arrangements of pop music.
Audiences will hear 18 numbers in their 100-minute Shenzhen concert, including hymns, pops and movie themes. The program includes such familiar tunes as "You Raise Me Up," Rihanna's hit "Diamonds," "See You Again," a song about friendship featured in "Furious 7," and "Try Everything" from Disney's "Zootopia." They will also sing "Golden Hour," a number dedicated to the city of Shanghai.
Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 29
Venue: Opera Hall, Bay Opera of Shenzhen, Bao'an District
Metro: Line 11 to Bao'an Station, Exit B; then take a taxi
Vienna Royal Symphony Orchestra
Under the baton of Italian composer and conductor Stefano Maria Torchio, the Vienna Royal Symphony Orchestra will honor a Vienna tradition to present works from the vast repertoire of the family of Johann Strauss and their contemporaries. The orchestra will also balance the 105-minute program with familiar Chinese pieces and the most popular pieces from the classical repertoire.
Time: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 31, Jan. 1, 2025
Venue: Opera Hall, Bay Opera of Shenzhen, Bao'an District
Metro: Line 11 to Bao'an Station, Exit B; then take a taxi
Paris Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Sylvain Leclerc, the Paris Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a new year's concert featuring such festive staples as Strauss Junior's "The Bat Overture" and "Thunder and Lightning Polka," excerpts from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake," opera arias and familiar Chinese tunes like "Jasmine Flower."
Tenor Victor Dahhani, mezzo-soprano Yana Boukoff, and violinist Pierre Humbert Pottiez will be featured soloists.
Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 31
Venue: Shenzhen Poly Theater, Nanshan District
Metro: Line 2 or 11 to Houhai Station, Exit E
UK National Symphony Orchestra
Under the baton of Paul Bateman, principal conductor of the U.K.'s National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), the orchestra will perform a new year's concert that features traditional Vienna dance tunes, opera arias, and Dvořák's fan-favorite "Symphony No. 9, Op. 95," also known as "From the New World." Soprano Annette Wardell will be the featured soloist.
Founded in 1940, the orchestra has an impressive history of recordings and a busy diary of live concert performances. Fans admire the ensemble for its versatility and passion.
Expect to hear Strauss Junior's "The Bat Overture," "The Blue Danube" and "Cuckoo Polka," Puccini's "Oh My Beloved Father," and "I Could Have Danced All Night" from Broadway musical "My Fair Lady."
Time: 8 p.m., Dec. 28
Venue: Shenzhen Poly Theater, Nanshan District
Metro: Line 2 or 11 to Houhai Station, Exit E
Woozeal Chamber Singers
Woozeal Chamber Singers
The 16-member all-male Woozeal Chamber Singers will perform a love-themed choral concert.
The 90-minute program will include eight numbers depicting romantic love, two each expressing appreciation for one's friends and parents, three as shout-out to fans, and finally Jonathan Lee's "The Cost of Love," where the audience members are expected to join in the chorus.
First founded in 2015, the ensemble based in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, has performed over 100 concerts in the past nine years, accumulating a loyal following in the young generation.
Time: 8 p.m., Jan. 1, 2025
Venue: Big Theater, Nanshan Culture and Sports Center, Nanshan District
Metro: Line 1 or 12 to Taoyuan Station, Exit B
The Cologne Symphony Orchestra stages a performance. File photos
Cologne Symphony Orchestra
Led by Esther Hilsberg Schaarmann, the Cologne Symphony Orchestra from Germany will perform a classical concert for local fans, featuring the works of Mozart, Strauss Junior, Rossini, and Brahms' highly popular "Hungarian Dance No. 5."
Time: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 28
Venue: Big Theater, Nanshan Culture and Sports Center, Nanshan District
Metro: Line 1 or 12 to Taoyuan Station, Exit B
Vienna Palace Orchestra
Under the baton of Werner Hackl, the Vienna Palace Orchestra will perform the joyful tunes from Mozart, the family of Johann Strauss, and the best known opera arias. The 90-minute concert will feature soprano Koroleva Elizaveta and tenor Henao Gonzalez Julian Alberto as soloists.
Time: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 29
Venue: Big Theater, Nanshan Culture and Sports Center, Nanshan District
Metro: Line 1 or 12 to Taoyuan Station, Exit B (Li Dan)
