Core Points - The Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra's 2025-2026 season commenced with Mahler's Sixth Symphony, showcasing the orchestra's commitment to engaging with the community and making classical music accessible [1] - Ticket prices have been significantly reduced, with a minimum price of 50 yuan for public tickets, aimed at attracting a broader audience to classical music performances [1] Group 1: Upcoming Performances - The new season will feature several Western masterpieces making their Chinese premieres, including works by Francis Poulenc, Valentin Silvestrov, Alexander Scriabin, and Krzysztof Penderecki [3] - A special series titled "Masters and Classics" will include five concerts dedicated to Chinese compositions, with world premieres of works by composers Lü Qiming and Liu Junhao [3] - The orchestra will host a personal concert for composer Ye Xiaogang, featuring a selection of his works, and will explore themes of human destiny in a concert titled "Dialogue of Chinese and Foreign Music" [3] Group 2: Guest Artists - The season will see the debut or return of several world-class conductors and soloists, including Finnish conductor Okko Kamu and Romanian conductor Ion Marin [3][4] - Notable soloists include the principal horn of the Berlin Philharmonic, Zeng Yun, and pianists Kong Xiangdong and Song Siheng, performing works by Tchaikovsky, Mozart, and Brahms [4] Group 3: Special Events and Collaborations - The orchestra will introduce a New Year concert featuring Johann Strauss's operetta "Die Fledermaus" and will collaborate with the Philadelphia Orchestra on a large symphonic concert [5] - The orchestra's new physical store, "SPO + Shanghai Philharmonic Space," will host frequent performances and offer discounts to concert ticket holders [5] Group 4: Recordings and Releases - The orchestra plans to release two vinyl records during the season, including a collection of Lü Qiming's orchestral works and a reissue of the piano concerto "Yellow River" [6] - A collaboration with the National Centre for the Performing Arts will result in the release of an album commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism [6]