Shanghai is honouring composer Ye Xiaogang with a week-long festival of concerts and discussions titled “The Tide Rises, the Clouds Return”, marking both a return to his birthplace and a celebration of one of China’s most distinguished musical voices. The events run from 18 to 24 September, uniting three of the city’s leading cultural institutions: the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
At the press call yesterday afternoon, Ye delivered a heartfelt speech recalling his roots in Shanghai:
“It is a great honour to be in Shanghai, my hometown, in this golden autumn, to hold such a music event. I was born and raised here until the age of 23, with a complete childhood, adolescence, and youth. Although I later lived in Beijing, New York, and Guangdong, I have always carried the wish to return to Shanghai with my music — to respond to my homesickness and to my deep feelings for this land.”
The festival programme reflects both Ye’s long career and his continuing impact:
* Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Lin Daye, will perform Ye’s Symphony No. 5 “Lu Xun” alongside a chamber concert.
* Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, under Zhang Yi, will present a re-creation of Ye’s landmark 1985 debut orchestral concert, revisiting the works that first established his reputation.
* Shanghai Conservatory of Music will host a forum exploring Ye’s compositional achievements and the development of composition as academic disciplines.
The title “The Tide Rises, the Clouds Return” 🌊☁️captures both the sense of renewal and the cyclical nature of Ye’s journey — from Shanghai to Beijing, New York, and back again — underscoring his deep emotional connection to the city where his musical path began.
As Shanghai audiences revisit his works and scholars debate his artistic legacy, the festival positions Ye Xiaogang not only as a composer of national significance but also as a figure whose music resonates with the world.
This is a Chinese language programme with Chinese subtitles.Filmed in Shanghai on September 9, 2025
