The “Summer of Dopamine” 2024 Shanghai Summer Music Festival (MISA), jointly organized by Shanghai Pharmaceuticals and MISA, has come to a close.
Recently, the “Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Invites You to Gather in Shanghai – 2024 Shanghai Summer Music Festival (MISA)” concluded. Musicians, music students, music fans, and tourists from both within China and internationally converged on Shanghai, gathering at the MISA stage. As one of Shanghai’s prominent cultural festivals, MISA, now in its 15th year, continues to expand its reach, creating a “Shanghai Summer” experience infused with a “dopamine tone” for music lovers worldwide. Shanghai Pharmaceuticals and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra have jointly crafted a cross-cultural summer literary feast, bringing friends from across the globe to Shanghai, united by their shared passion for music.
Liang Haoyi, a young composer hailing from Hong Kong, China, brought Jin Yong’s renowned martial arts works to the MISA stage. On July 15th, the “Shanghai Pharma Holdings Night·Jin Yong Centennial-2024 Shanghai Summer Music Festival Closing Concert” captivated the audience. Liang Haoyi expressed that the MISA stage provided him with opportunities, fueled his creativity, and opened doors to global communication.
Yu Long joins hands with young composer Liang Haoyi from Hong Kong, China
The magic of MISA lies in the fusion of cultures and emotions. The New York Philharmonic has been associated with MISA since 2015, marking their first overseas residency. This year, this globally renowned orchestra returned to Shanghai following a five-year hiatus. On July 2nd, Jaap van Zweden conducted the “Dragon and Tiger Cool Night – New York Philharmonic and Jaap van Zweden Return to Shanghai (Part 1)” concert for MISA fans from around the world.
Musical delights abound at MISA, not confined to the Shanghai Symphony Hall on Fuxing Middle Road. The festivities spread across the city, encompassing the Shanghai City Lawn Music Plaza, Xintiandi, Dream Garden, Wukang Road, known as “Wu’an Ancient Town,” and Zhihe Kafen Garden on Hengshan Road. Surprises await at every turn.
Latvian accordionist Sidorova graced Shanghai with two performances. Her first concert took place at the concert hall, marking her inaugural official collaboration with her close friend, Venetian baritone singer Benjamin Arp, in Shanghai. Her second performance unfolded on the open lawn, centered around the music of Astor Piazzolla, offering a captivating tribute to “tango.”
Latvian accordionist Sidorova appears at lawn concert
On July 10th, a Xintiandi flash mob event, co-organized by Shanghai Pharmaceuticals and MISA, brought four days of captivating activities, including “Marching Brass,” “Bossa Nova Shanghai Summer,” “Dance Sculpture,” and “Jufu Choir.” Each day, this Shanghai city landmark pulsated with artistic energy.
MISA ventures beyond simply showcasing captivating performances. In addition to the 24 live concerts held at the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall and Shanghai City Lawn Music Plaza, MISA embodies the “spillover effect,” extending its cultural embrace with events such as “City Symphony,” MISA Walk, MISA Talk, Tai Chi Experience, World Coffee Tour, and the “Shanghai Imprint” exhibition. These initiatives highlight the harmonious integration of culture, commerce, sports, and tourism, enriching the essence of “Shanghai Summer.”
The artistic spillover effect of the city’s symphony
“Our vision at MISA is to build a platform that embodies the concept of ‘pan-culture,'” shared Zhou Ping, the head of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. This year, MISA introduced a new cultural talk show, “MISA Talk,” featuring five representatives from diverse fields, sharing their perspectives on the theme and dissecting various facets of culture. Shi Shucheng, one of the adaptors of the piano concerto “Yellow River” and a renowned pianist, shared his artistic philosophy behind adapting Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and offered insights into his artistic journey. Wang Yuanchao, a singer-songwriter specializing in Shanghai nursery rhymes, delved into the story behind the popular Shanghai nursery rhyme “Me More Say,” which playfully evokes cotton sweaters and belly buttons. Performing artist Wang Rugang, known for his captivating fireworks displays in the “Kitchen Room” symphony, reminisced with the audience regarding the nostalgic flavors of his hometown. Aaron Afshalomov, the first composer to orchestrate the “March of the Volunteers,” was the topic of a fascinating discussion led by Xu Shen, a seasoned classical music enthusiast, as they traced Afshalomov’s musical footprint in Shanghai. Mao Jian, a professor and writer at East China Normal University, reflected on the world of Jin Yong that captivated her heart, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth.
These discussions have captivated art enthusiasts, drawing them to “gather in Shanghai.” On social media, many music lovers have noted that “gathering in Shanghai” has become a natural choice for the art world. The question arises, why is Shanghai consistently chosen? She Qun, chairman of the Shanghai Pharmaceutical Group Labor Union, sheds light on this phenomenon. When explaining the recurring theme for MISA, she explains, “Over the past few years, we have collaboratively selected MISA’s theme. From ‘Achieving a Good Beginning’ in 2022 and ‘Opening a Beautiful New World’ in 2023, to this year’s ‘Gathering in Shanghai,’ we’re reflecting a reality: Shanghai is a city that embraces openness and inclusivity. Its past development, particularly its growth since the reform and opening up, reaffirms that openness and inclusivity foster progress. This is why Shanghai Pharmaceuticals has evolved from a local state-owned enterprise into a large-scale pharmaceutical group with a national presence, gradually expanding globally. Music, culture, and other fields exemplify these values of openness and inclusivity. Consequently, we’ve actively promoted the integration of music into the community, bringing MISA to citizens and tourists, allowing more individuals to experience the beauty of Shanghai.”
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals’ Longhu, Xinyi, Leishi, Yutianshi, and Huashi brands bring summer heat relief products to the public
In essence, Shanghai’s cultural festivals and exhibitions, including MISA, are a year-round affair. “Spring brings the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival and the Shanghai Book Fair. Summer is the time for the Shanghai International Film Festival, the Shanghai TV Festival, and the Shanghai Summer Music Festival. Autumn hosts the China Shanghai International Art Festival, while winter features various New Year’s Eve events. Culture and art grace Shanghai throughout the calendar year,” emphasizes Zhou Ping. He highlights that culture is the city’s most valuable calling card. “I am optimistic regarding the dedication of our cultural and artistic practitioners to ensure that more and more audiences and tourists, both domestic and international, gain a comprehensive understanding of Shanghai’s vibrant energy and style.”
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals and MISA Jointly Build the “Summer of Dopamine” 2024 Shanghai Summer Music Festival Comes to an End
Recently, “Shanghai Pharmaceuticals invites you to gather in Shanghai – 2024 Shanghai Summer Music Festival (MISA)” came to an end. Musicians, music students, music fans and tourists from home and abroad came to Shanghai and gathered on the MISA stage. As one of Shanghai’s well-known cultural festivals, MISA, which is entering its 15th year this year, continues to spread its influence, creating a “Shanghai Summer” with a “dopamine tone” for music fans around the world. Shanghai Pharmaceuticals and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra have prepared a cross-cultural summer literary feast, and friends from all over the world can come to Shanghai and gather in Shanghai because of the music element.
A Concert with a Touch of Jin Yong
Liang Haoyi, a young composer from Hong Kong, China, brought Jin Yong’s martial arts works to the MISA stage. On the evening of July 15, the “Shanghai Pharma Holdings Night·Jin Yong Centennial-2024 Shanghai Summer Music Festival Closing Concert” was staged, attracting everyone’s attention. Liang Haoyi said that the MISA stage gave him opportunities and creativity, and also gave him the possibility to communicate with the world.
Yu Long joins hands with young composer Liang Haoyi from Hong Kong, China
New York Philharmonic Returns to Shanghai
Exchange when you get together, feel when you collide. The New York Philharmonic has been associated with MISA since 2015, and it was their first overseas residency. This year, this world-famous orchestra returned to Shanghai following a five-year absence. On the evening of July 2, he conducted the “Dragon and Tiger Cool Night – New York Philharmonic and Jaap van Zweden Return to Shanghai (Part 1)” concert for MISA fans at home and abroad.
MISA Extends Beyond the Stage
At MISA, there are wonderful encounters with music every day, not only at the Shanghai Symphony Hall on Fuxing Middle Road, but also at the Shanghai City Lawn Music Plaza, Xintiandi, Dream Garden, Wukang Road nicknamed “Wu’an Ancient Town”, and Zhihe Kafen Garden on Hengshan Road… Surprises happen at every corner of the city.
Latvian accordion player Sidorova gave two consecutive performances in Shanghai this time: the first one was in the concert hall, where she made her first official collaboration with her good friend, the native Venetian baritone singer Benjamin Arp, in Shanghai; the second one was on the open lawn, with the music of Astor Piazzolla as the main theme, recreating and paying tribute to the “tango” music.
Latvian accordionist Sidorova appears at lawn concert
On July 10, the Xintiandi flash mob event jointly launched by Shanghai Pharmaceuticals and MISA held activities such as “Marching Brass”, “Bossa Nova Shanghai Summer”, “Dance Sculpture”, and “Jufu Choir” for four consecutive days, making this Shanghai city landmark full of literary and artistic content every day.
MISA is more than just a wonderful performance. In addition to the 24 live concerts held at the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall and Shanghai City Lawn Music Plaza, MISA also fully demonstrated the “spillover effect” and held extended activities such as “City Symphony”, MISA Walk, MISA Talk, Tai Chi Experience, World Coffee Tour, and “Shanghai Imprint” exhibition, which gave the integration of culture, commerce, sports and tourism a vivid and specific footnote and enriched the connotation of “Shanghai Summer”.
The artistic spillover effect of the city’s symphony
MISA Talk: Cultural Exchange and Sharing
“We at MISA are trying to build a platform with the concept of ‘pan-culture’,” said Zhou Ping, the head of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. This year, MISA launched a new cultural talk show “MISA Talk”, which invited five representatives from various fields to share their views on the theme and dissect different aspects of culture. Shi Shucheng, one of the adaptors of the piano concerto “Yellow River” and a pianist, shared his artistic concept of adapting Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and his artistic life; Wang Yuanchao, a singer-songwriter of Shanghai nursery rhymes, talked regarding the story behind the Shanghai nursery rhyme “Me More Say” that teases cotton sweaters and belly buttons; performing artist Wang Rugang played the most beautiful fireworks in the “Kitchen Room” symphony, and searched for the taste of hometown in memory with the audience; the first composer to orchestrate the “March of the Volunteers” was named Aaron Afshalomov, and Xu Shen, a senior classical music lover, led the audience to find Afshalomov’s musical footprints in Shanghai; Mao Jian, a professor and writer at East China Normal University, talked regarding the Jin Yong world in her heart on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Jin Yong’s birth.
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals’ Commitment to Cultural Openness
These columns have also attracted the attention and emotional resonance of art lovers to “gather in Shanghai”. Some music fans lamented on social networks that “gathering in Shanghai” seems to have become one of the natural choices for the art world. Why is this option often Shanghai? She Qun, chairman of the Shanghai Pharmaceutical Group Labor Union, may have the answer when explaining why MISA has been named for many consecutive years: “In recent years, we have jointly determined the theme of MISA. From ‘Achieving a Good Beginning’ in 2022, ‘Opening a Beautiful New World’ in 2023 to this year’s ‘Gathering in Shanghai’, we are all explaining a reality: Shanghai is an open and inclusive city. Its past development, especially the development since the reform and opening up, has once once more proved that openness and inclusiveness can make our city develop better. It is precisely because of this that Shanghai Pharmaceuticals has grown from a local state-owned enterprise to a large-scale full-industry chain pharmaceutical group with a national layout and gradually going global. Music, culture and other fields are the best examples of the concept of openness and inclusiveness. Therefore, we have been promoting the integration of music into the crowd, bringing MISA to citizens and tourists, and allowing more people to feel the beauty of Shanghai.”
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals’ Longhu, Xinyi, Leishi, Yutianshi and Huashi brands bring summer heat relief products to the public
Shanghai: A City of Culture Year-Round
In fact, including MISA, Shanghai’s cultural festivals and exhibitions are “open all year round.” “In spring, there is the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival and the Shanghai Book Fair; in summer, there is the Shanghai International Film Festival, the Shanghai TV Festival, and the Shanghai Summer Music Festival; in autumn, there is the China Shanghai International Art Festival; in winter, there are various New Year’s Eve sections. It can be said that culture and art cover the spring, summer, autumn, and winter in Shanghai.” Zhou Ping said that culture is the best business card of a city. “I also look forward to the efforts of our literary and artistic practitioners to enable more and more audiences and tourists at home and abroad to have a 360-degree all-round understanding of Shanghai’s vitality and style.”
