The 90-year-old Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall will reopen on Sunday, with a “Missing You” music theme opening day, after more than 18 months of maintenance and upgrading.

Its music season “New paths, new beginnings” will start on September 19 with a concert by Tan Dun and Shanghai Opera House Orchestra, followed by 53 performances and various other activities including public open days, forums and art exhibitions through the end of the year.

“We have been longing to reunite with audiences,” said Fang Liang, the concert hall’s general manager.

“Our respect for the audience and performers has been reflected in the details of the maintenance and upgrades in the last 18 months. We hope that everyone can enjoy a safe, comfortable, warm and rich musical experience here.”

With upgraded stage facilities, the new music season will carry on the goal of offering music to everyone, with both classical masterpieces and contemporary cross-boundary explorations.

The opening concert will see Tan Dun conducting his latest composition “Prayer and Blessing,” his response to the pandemic, aiming to bring together isolated musicians from around the world.

Featuring Wuhan gongs and tam tams, it is written to be performed with varying instrumentation and flexibility, by musicians together or remotely, virtually or live in concert halls.

The concert will also feature Tan’s birthday gift to the concert hall, a song re-arranged from Bach’s "Prelude in C major," delivering a message of birth, rebirth and the everlasting cycle of life.

The season also includes a solo concert of operatic excerpts by soprano He Hui, one of the most celebrated performers of "Madama Butterfly" and "Aida." She made her operatic debut in Shanghai as Dorabella in Mozart’s "Cosi fan tutte (All Women Do it)", and later became the first Chinese soprano to assume the Verdian role of Aida. The concert will also see the soprano singing Chinese songs.

In recent years, Shanghai Concert Hall has increased its efforts in introducing other music genres and experimenting with cross-boundary works. Some of the most popular musicians in rock, folk, jazz and electro fields are also joining the coming music season.

The coming season will also see the return of the experimental dance “The Tune of Water,” debuted with success in 2018. It was the first cross-boundary work commissioned by the concert hall.

Inspired by the Miao ethnic minority music of Hunan Province, the show features songs passed down for generations, a piano trio created from the songs, kung fu and calligraphy. Its theme is life and growth through the symbol of water.

The public open days, with morning and afternoon sessions on September 6, 12 and 13, will give visitors first-hand opportunity to explore one of the city’s oldest cultural landmarks. Musicians will be performing live at key spots in the building during the open days.

An exhibition commemorating Beethoven’s 250th birthday will also start on September 19 at the newly added art exhibition space on the fourth floor, offering an interactive sound art experience.