Armstrong Music Arts 2026 Annual Gala Announcement
At a time when the global cultural landscape is being reshaped, the movement of art across borders has become more precious than ever. In 2026, Armstrong Music & Arts enters its 17th year. Throughout these years, we have remained committed to an open, international vision — connecting China with the world’s artistic ecosystem. We bring the most influential artists and ensembles to Asia, while enabling Chinese voices, works, and creators to step onto the global stage and participate in shaping the international cultural narrative.
Featuring over 30 renowned artists and world‑class ensembles, our “Armstrong’s Select” lineup will continue to deliver high‑quality, high‑level artistic feasts for music lovers.
2026 Maestro Series
The “Masters Series” is a tribute to the great masters of music. We will invite and organize these outstanding figures from the fields of piano, violin, vocal music, etc., who have been recognized as contemporary top talents and have won numerous awards by authoritative classical music magazines, to perform in China. Through their classic interpretations, we can trace back the musical context and experience the essence of the masters’ artistry.
Mikhail Pletnev
Piano
Dates：2025.12-2026.02.09
One of the finest contemporary artists, active as a pianist, conductor, and composer
A direct disciple of the renowned Russian piano master Yakov Flier
Gold Medalist of the 1978 International Tchaikovsky Competition (Piano)
Recipient of major international honors including the 1996 Gramophone Award and the 2005 Grammy Award
David Stern
Conductor
Dates：2026.04.05-04.12
One of today’s most creative and versatile conductors
Founder of Opera Fuoco and its acclaimed Young Artists Program
Former Music Director of the Israeli Opera and the Opera St. Gallen
Currently Music Director of Palm Beach Opera
Pinchas Zukerman
Violin, Viola, Conductor
Dates：2026.06.04-06.15
One of the world’s top ten contemporary violinists
One of the two great violinists of the 20th century
Winner of two Grammy Awards and 21 nominations
Conductor Emeritus of the National Arts Center Orchestra of Canada
Pablo Sáinz-Villegas
Classical Guitar
Dates：2026.06.13-06.21
One of the most outstanding and distinguished guitar masters of our time
Described by Billboard as “the soul of Spanish guitar”
The first guitarist in nearly forty years to be invited to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic
The first guitarist of the 21st century to appear with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Michel Lethiec
Clarinet
Dates：Coming Soon
One of the most influential clarinet masters on the international music scene today Former Professor at the Conservatoire de Paris and the Conservatoire de Nice
Artistic Director of the Pablo Casals Festival in Prades
Active on major stages worldwide and a jury member for numerous international competitions
Dmitri Alexeev
Piano
Dates：2026.10
First Prize winner of the 1975 Leeds International Piano Competition
Described by The Daily Telegraph as “one of the most distinguished pianists of our time”
Jury member for major international competitions including Leeds, Chopin, Van Cliburn, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky
Professor of Piano at the Royal Academy of Music
Angela Gheorghiu
Soprano
Dates：2026.10.26-11.22
One of the greatest sopranos of our time
An authoritative interpreter of Puccini and Verdi, renowned for her distinctive timbre and dramatic intensity
Made her 1992 debuts at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera in the same year
Rose to international stardom with her 1994 Covent Garden performance of La Traviata, hailed as an “opera superstar”
Celebrated by critics as “one of the most captivating voices in opera”
Michel Dalberto
Piano
Dates：2026.11
A leading heir to the French piano tradition
Acclaimed as “one of the most poetic French pianists of our time”
Recipient of Classica Magazine’s “Album of the Year / Artist of the Year” distinctions
Winner of the inaugural Salzburg Mozart Competition and the Leeds International Piano Competition
Barry Douglas
Piano
Dates：2026.11.12-12.20
Gold Medalist of the Piano Division at the 1986 International Tchaikovsky Competition Current jury member of the International Tchaikovsky Competition
Founder of the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s string ensemble and the Clandeboye Festival
Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2002
2026 Young Waves
The “Young Waves” series embodies unwavering exploration. The most popular young artists, who are not only talented but also good – looking, embrace their passion for music and write their own legends. Every breakthrough and attempt they make adds new colors and dimensions to the classical music world.
Ray Chen
Violin
Dates：2026.05.14-06.01
Gold Medalist, 2008 Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition
Gold Medalist, 2009 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition
DG recording artist with triple platinum album certification
The only classical violinist with over 1 million followers on Instagram
An Tianxu
Piano
Dates：Coming Soon
One of the most prominent young Chinese pianists of his generation
Fourth Prize and Special Prize for “Courage and Restraint” at the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition
Praised by Jury Chairman Denis Matsuev as “stunning” and “mature beyond his years”
2026 Top Feast
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales take the stage alongside today’s most influential conductors and soloists, delivering monumental symphonic masterpieces. From the profound heritage of European musical traditions to authoritative interpretations of our time, this exceptional lineup fulfills every expectation for world class, high caliber performances.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra&Vasily Petrenko
Violinist：Anne-Sophie Mutter
Dates：2025.10.30-11.14
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra：
One of the United Kingdom’s most distinguished national symphony orchestras
Founded in 1946 by Sir Thomas Beecham
Renowned for its “music without boundaries” and its wide ranging cross genre collaborations
Vasily Petrenko：
Music Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Served as Chief Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic for fifteen years, hailed as “the man who reshaped the orchestra’s sound”
Renowned for a conducting style marked by authority, clarity, and powerful dramatic tension
Anne Sophie Mutter：
Four time Grammy Award winner
Described by Deutsche Grammophon as “one of the greatest violinists of our time” Deeply committed to nurturing young musicians and philanthropic initiatives, serving on the Board of the Lucerne Festival
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Dates：2026.12.26-2027.01.04
The only professional symphony orchestra in Wales, serving both as a BBC broadcast orchestra and as the national symphony orchestra
Founded in 1928, making it one of the oldest broadcast orchestra institutions in the United Kingdom
Renowned for its high quality recordings and its commitment to contemporary music, regularly featured in the BBC NOW! new music series
Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor：Kakhi Solomnishvili
Soloist：David Khrikuli
Dates：2026.12.20-2027.01.02
Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra：
The national symphony orchestra of Georgia, based in Tbilisi
Founded in 1925, making it one of the oldest symphony orchestras in the Caucasus region
Active at the Tbilisi State Concert Hall and on international stages, acclaimed for performances that blend national character with global perspective
Highly esteemed in the Caucasus for its collaborations with leading international conductors and soloists
Kakhi Solomnishvili：
Principal Conductor of the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor of the Georgian National Philharmonic Orchestra and Tbilisi Opera and Ballet Theatre
Assistant Conductor to the renowned conducting master Charles Dutoit since 2022
Winner of the Georgian Tsinandali Music Award in 2017
David Khrikuli：
Finalist of the 2025 International Chopin Piano Competition | Semi-Finalist (Top 4) of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
First Prize Winner of the 2024 Cantu International Piano and Orchestra Competition
First Prize Winner & Audience Award Winner of the 2024 Vigo International Piano Competition
Has collaborated with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and other world-famous orchestras
Boasts extensive experience in chamber music and symphony orchestra collaborations, and is an active performer on the international mainstream music stage
2026 Chamber Voices
The “Dance & Vision” series reshapes the boundaries of stage imagination. Svetlana Zakharova and Vadim Repin join the principal dancers of the Bolshoi Theatre to present “Chanel: The Legend” and “Pas de Deux for Toes and Fingers,” where supreme ballet artistry meets live music in a timeless fusion. Compagnia Finzi Pasca brings the poetic visual theatre work “The Dream of Venice,” delivers a cinematic world of illusion and immersive spectacle. From ballet to visual theatre, from luminous poetry to film level magic, “Dance & Vision” interprets the infinite possibilities of ultimate art with boundary-breaking stage expression.
Wind Rabbit Chamber Choir
Dates：2026.04-06
The choir is dedicated to “preserving tradition and reimagining the classics” Committed to promoting outstanding choral works from China and around the world
Its repertoire spans a wide range of styles, including classical, contemporary, folk, and popular music
Barry Douglas with Camerata Ireland
Dates：2026.09.25-09.30
Barry Douglas：
Gold Medalist of the Piano Division at the 1986 International Tchaikovsky Competition Current jury member of the International Tchaikovsky Competition
Founder of the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s string ensemble and the Clandeboye Festival
Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2002
Camerata Ireland：
Created by Barry Douglas, with a global touring footprint across the world’s major stages
A national chamber ensemble jointly sponsored by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the President of Ireland
Long‑term resident ensemble at the Théâtre des Champs‑Élysées—one of only two foreign orchestras granted this honor in Europe
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell
Dates：2026.10.10-10.15
Academy of St Martin in the Fields：
One of the world’s most influential chamber orchestras, renowned for its precision and transparent sonority
Founded in 1958 by Sir Neville Marriner, becoming a defining symbol of British classical music
Celebrated for performances marked by “precision, elegance, and quintessential British character”
Gained worldwide acclaim for its recording of the soundtrack to the film Amadeus
Joshua Bell：
Music Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields since 2011
One of the most influential violinists of our time
Grammy Award winner with a career spanning nearly four decades
A rare triple force as soloist, conductor, and chamber music leader
His collaboration with the Academy has been hailed as “a perfect fusion of chamber intimacy and symphonic breadth”
2026 Dance&Vision
The “Masters Series” is a tribute to the great masters of music. We will invite and organize these outstanding figures from the fields of piano, violin, vocal music, etc., who have been recognized as contemporary top talents and have won numerous awards by authoritative classical music magazines, to perform in China. Through their classic interpretations, we can trace back the musical context and experience the essence of the masters’ artistry.
Svetlana Zakharova&Vadim Repin
with the principal dancers of the Bolshoi Theatre
“Chanel: The Legend” & “Pas de Deux for Toes and Fingers”
Dates：2026.05、09、10
Svetlana Zakharova：
A divine figure in the ballet world, a ballerina seemingly born for the art
The brightest star and Prima Ballerina of the Bolshoi Ballet
The first and only Russian female étoile of La Scala Theatre Ballet
Appointed Rector of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography in September 2024
Vadim Repin：
Celebrated as “the sole true heir of the Russian violin school”
Recipient of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) and the title of People’s Artist of Russia
Praised by Yehudi Menuhin as “the most perfect violinist”
Artistic Director of the Trans Siberian Art Festival
Bolshoi Theatre：
One of the world’s oldest and most renowned theatres
Home to the oldest ballet company in Russia
Universally regarded as one of the crown jewels of global ballet, often hailed as the “supreme ballet ensemble”
Compagnia Finzi Pasca “The Dream of Venice”
Dates：2026.07.27-08.23
One of Switzerland’s most internationally influential visual theatre companies Directed the Closing Ceremony of the Turin Winter Olympics and both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Sochi Winter Olympics
Celebrated for works that blend theatre, dance, acrobatics, light, and poetic storytelling, often described as “a company that writes poetry with light and the human body”
More exciting programs along with greater surprises, will be unveiled to you one after another in due course…