Home | Programs | This Week from China's National Centre for the Performing Arts | Schubert, Zhao, Chen

Schubert, Zhao, Chen

China's NCPA | July 21, 2025, 10:00 am

Maestro Lü Jia

We’ll sample some fascinating music from China in our next concert from the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Including a concerto for pipa, music for voice and orchestra, and Chen Peixun’s sublime and cinematic Symphony No. 1. Led by the NCPA’s music director Lü Jia.

Meet the Host

Robbie Ellis joined the WFMT team as a part-time host in 2015, and went full-time in 2020 as the producer and presenter of Introductions. You can also hear him on air on Sunday afternoons. He's fronted a variety of broadcasts and events for WFMT, including hosting Classical Cabaret and Folkstage from the piano. Originally from Auckland, New Zealand, he has a Composition degree from the University of Auckland and started in classical music radio at RNZ Concert. Outside radio, he has created comedy classical concerts with the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago and Fourth Coast Ensemble, and has worked as a music director at the Chicago Magic Lounge and The Second City. Robbie hosts pre-concert talks for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Grant Park Music Festival, Apollo’s Fire and more; and you can find his comedy albums on Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music.

Through the Night with Peter van de Graaff

Through the Night with Peter van de Graaff

Schubert, Zhao, Chen