On the evening of June 9, 2026, on the eve of the United Nations’ second International Day of Dialogue Among Civilizations, a landmark symphonic concert was grandly staged at the Auditorio de Telemadrid in Madrid. Co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Spain and the Harbin Municipal People’s Government, the themed symphonic concert for the International Day of Dialogue Among Civilizations featured the century-old Harbin Symphony Orchestra conducted by renowned Chinese composer Wang Ning, who presented the European premiere of his grand symphony Civilization.
More than a thousand distinguished guests from politics, business, diplomacy, culture, art, think tanks and overseas Chinese communities attended the event. Among them were Guillermo Gil, Deputy Speaker of the Congress of Deputies of Spain; Yao Jing, Chinese Ambassador to Spain; Lan Feng, Member of the Standing Committee of Harbin Municipal Party Committee and Director of the Publicity Department; and Reem, Secretary-General of the World Federation of International Music Competitions.
On June 7, 2024, the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a proposal put forward by China, designating June 10 every year as the International Day of Dialogue Among Civilizations. Its core mission is to advance dialogue between civilizations worldwide, eliminate racial and cultural prejudices, and advance the sustainable development of civilizations for all humankind.
Led by the Publicity Department of the Harbin Municipal Party Committee, the Harbin Symphony Orchestra, together with multiple domestic symphony orchestras across China, commissioned renowned composer Wang Ning to compose the symphony Civilization, with lyrics penned by Han Wangxi. On June 10, 2025, marking the first anniversary of the inaugural International Day of Dialogue Among Civilizations, and the world premiere of this symphonic under the baton of the composer himself. The piece was an instant sensation upon its debut. In the same year, it won the Outstanding Work Award at the National Excellent Symphonic Works Exhibition hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and received special funding support from the National Arts Fund. It subsequently embarked on a tour across numerous cities in China, earning widespread critical acclaim.
Build an Epic Grand Narrative of Intermingling Civilizations Through Music
Composer Wang Ning is a world-leading figure in contemporary music composition. He is the only composer worldwide to have been invited twice to stage solo symphonic concerts at UNESCO. His 5th choral symphony Ode to Humanity has been hailed by international media as China’s equivalent of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, and it remains the sole musical work recommended to the world by UNESCO. Civilization, his 11th symphony, consists of five movements. Each movement carries profound humanistic reflections and thoughtful contemplation on history.
The Overture and First Movement are Andante. Infused with diverse musical traditions from across the globe, the music enables different civilizations to radiate brilliance through exchange and mutual learning. Embracing disparities with an inclusive vision, it unfolds a gorgeous panorama of human civilizations marked by universal harmony and coexistence for all mankind.
Movement II, Presto and Largo, delivers intensely tense and dramatic music depicting humanity’s repeated sufferings, widespread devastation of lives, mankind’s bloody resistance against evil, and unwavering pursuit of light. It denounces human greed and lays bare that war is an unhealable wound to human civilizations. The movement serves as a solemn reminder to reflect on history and cherish peace.
Movement III, Largo, brims with compassion. It prays that no land shall ever be ravaged by war and suffering again, that every life may be respected and cherished, and that no child need scavenge for hope amid rubble. The movement yearns for humanity’s conscience to endure forever and the torch of civilization to be passed down through generations.
Movement IV, a bright Moderato, adopts uplifting and flowing melodies to extol peace and friendship, envisioning a united world where all nations live in amity.
Movement V and Coda, Andante Maestoso, narrates how humanity retains its inherent kindness through countless catastrophes, calling on peoples across the globe to unite and strive for perpetual peace.
The most groundbreaking artistic highlight of this movement lies in the composer’s “Collage Technique”. He ingeniously weaves musical motifs from more than twenty timeless masterpieces spanning Eastern and Western civilizations — including works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and iconic Chinese compositions. These musical emblems representing diverse civilizations intersect and interlock into a single cohesive stream, forming a symbolic river of human history where civilizations communicate, integrate and illuminate one another.
Creatively, organically collaging such a vast array of classical musical excerpts pushes the collage technique to its fullest potential, marking an unprecedented milestone in music history. This masterful device also brings to vivid fruition the core philosophy of mutual learning between civilizations and harmonious coexistence.
Spiritual Resonance Across National Borders and Enthusiastic Acclaim
As the music drew to a close amid majestic, resounding chords, thunderous applause erupted throughout the auditorium. The audience rose to their feet, shouting “Bravo!”; clapping and cheers went on for several minutes. Conductor Wang Ning took curtain calls time and again, and amid unceasing ovations from the crowd, he returned to perform an excerpt from the final movement as an encore.
After the concert, Ambassador Yao Jing walked onto the stage to congratulate Wang Ning and spoke sincerely to the media: “This concert is far more than an artistic feast; it is a vivid practice of dialogue among civilizations.” He said emotionally, “The entire performance is incredibly stirring and touching. I was moved to tears during the third movement.” Ambassador Yao pointed out, “Chinese culture and art are fully capable of shining on the global stage. This is the highest-standard and most brilliant symphonic performance Madrid has witnessed in recent times!”
Guillermo Gil, Deputy Speaker of the Congress of Deputies of Spain, spoke highly of the work: “This symphony narrates the history of Eastern and Western civilizations in a gentle, compelling manner. It allows the people of the Iberian Peninsula to witness the open and inclusive spirit of Chinese civilization, marking a magnificent milestone in cultural exchanges between our two countries.”
Reem, Secretary-General of the World Federation of International Music Competitions, remarked: “Surrounded by interwoven and resonant melodies from the East and West, I witnessed firsthand the tangible realization of mutual learning among civilizations. Civilizations were never meant to be closed or isolated. Music is humanity’s shared ‘fifth language’, the tenderest medium to break down divides and foster heartfelt spiritual communication. This performance of the symphony Civilization serves as a most vivid and moving example of dialogue between civilizations. Music erases barriers stemming from ideology, geography and ethnicity. Diverse civilizations do not have to become identical; they merely need to understand and respect one another through communication — this is the core message delivered by this concert in Madrid. Breaking away from the constraints of a single culture,
Civilization recounts the saga of civilizations from a universal human standpoint, representing an extraordinarily groundbreaking undertaking in contemporary symphonic composition. The original collage technique weaving together multiple classical excerpts in its finale is artistically groundbreaking, rendering this composition a rare benchmark in contemporary symphonic writing.”
Long after the performance concluded, numerous audience members lingered in the theatre lobby and engaged in lively discussions. Many spectators had tears welling up in their eyes, sharing their heartfelt thoughts: “It stirs my blood and fills my heart with surging emotions.” “Music and civilizations blend perfectly and bring out the best in each other!” “It is magnificent! The performance fully reveals the overwhelming power of music and the profound heritage of civilizations.” “It is absolutely brilliant.” “It touches the depths of my soul.” “The charm of music permeates everything, with diverse cultures displayed confidently and merging naturally.” “The power of music transcends all national borders.” “I felt as if wandering along the long river of history, with glorious historical scenes unfolding right before my eyes.” “The atmosphere here is unforgettable; this cultural feast is not to be missed.” “This performance is far more than an audio-visual spectacle—it is a baptism for the soul.”
When Wang Ning stepped forward, several audience members hurried over to congratulate him and express their excitement, repeatedly giving him thumbs-up gestures. With assistance from overseas Chinese interpreters present, it emerged that some of them were professional string and wind instrumentalists from local orchestras with decades of experience performing classical music. They said excitedly: “You are the second Beethoven! Your composition is magnificent and deeply moving. And your compositional techniques and artistic style are fresh and distinctive. Few contemporary works can touch the soul like this. Your talent knows no bounds, and we sincerely hope you will create many more masterpieces.”
Illuminate the Path Ahead for Human Civilization with Conscience
A panoramic survey of composer Wang Ning’s composing catalogue encompasses works including Call for the Future, Dissimilation– Humanity and Itself - A Prayer for the End of the Century, Ode to the People, Ode to Humanity, Earth-Home and Civilization. Every composition brims with profound compassion for humanity and all living creatures. Endowed with a far-reaching vision, he pours his heart and soul into every score. His works pose penetrating inquiries into humankind’s shared future and destiny, while issuing fervent calls for ecological sustainability and peace for all beings. For half his life, he has toiled with relentless dedication, wielding musical notation to carry lofty ideals and awaken the world through profound contemplation. Guided by a heart of universal compassion, he gazes upon the road ahead for all mankind.
The European premiere of Civilization constructs a sweeping epic panorama of human civilizations with its grand vision, profound ideological depth, and far-reaching themes that uphold humanity and contemplate the fate of all living beings. The work delivers profound self-reflection on the course of human history, denounces greed and evil, and resounds as a soul-stirring cry for conscience. It is hoped that through the borderless language of music, this symphony may awaken conscience and compassion, enable civilizations to transcend national boundaries, and stand as an eternal beacon guiding humanity’s journey forward. This concert stands as an invitation extended by civilizations alike. Amid the tide of globalization, it gathers humanity’s shared aspirations and plays out a spiritual symphony for all mankind. With an inclusive heart, we embrace the world, embrace diverse civilizations, embrace peace, and embrace the future!
We close this report with the maxim inscribed by the composer on the title page of the full score: “The ultimate test for the future of human civilization lies not in humanity’s capabilities, but in its conscience.”
(by Shea Hsia)
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