Core Viewpoint - The 2026 New Year Concerts held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts and the Great Hall of the People in Beijing showcased high-profile performances, celebrating the New Year with a blend of classical and contemporary music [1][3][5]. Group 1: National Centre for the Performing Arts - The 2026 New Year Concert at the National Centre for the Performing Arts was conducted by music director Lü Jia, featuring top artists such as Lü Siqing, Qin Liwei, and Yu Hongmei [3]. - The concert opened with the classic symphonic overture "The Ode to the Red Flag" and included works like Beethoven's "Triple Concerto" and Yu Hongmei's original piece "Ink Plum" [3]. - A special tribute to the 90th anniversary of the Long March was included, featuring a segment from "The Long March Song" [3]. - The "New Year Concert" followed at 23:00, conducted by Zhang Yi, featuring works by Wagner, Gershwin, and contemporary Chinese pieces, culminating in a countdown to the New Year [3]. Group 2: Great Hall of the People - The 30th Beijing New Year Concert at the Great Hall of the People featured conductor Yang Yang leading the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, with a large ensemble of 120 musicians [5]. - The concert also began with "The Ode to the Red Flag," followed by Western classics like "The Blue Danube" and traditional pieces such as "Fishing Boat Song at Dusk" [5]. - Notable performances included German pianist Julian Priefling playing excerpts from the "Yellow River" piano concerto and trumpeter Andrei Jufreidi performing "My Motherland," which resonated with the audience [5]. - The concert concluded with a grand chorus of "Singing the Motherland," and the enthusiastic atmosphere was highlighted by three encores [5]. - The event attracted a significant number of young attendees, establishing itself as a unique cultural highlight for the New Year in the capital [5].