German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter will begin the festival with a recital of classical sonata pieces. Photos Provided to China Daily

Chamber music is the focus of this year's The May Festival, with musicians from 12 countries, Chen Jie reports.

For many people, the term "chamber music" is somewhat off-putting. They associate it with high-brow music designed for a select audience of experts and feel it probably offers little to ordinary listeners.

This feeling has no real justification, and it is a pity as it prevents the exploration of what is a wonderful repertory to which the world's best -loved composers have contributed.

Although chamber music involves a smaller number of players and listeners, it is not music for the elites. Rather, it usually has more subtlety and delicacy than orchestral works, operas and concertos where big sweeping effects are needed to win over an audience.

"Audiences do not turn to chamber music for epic utterances or grand effects, but rather for quality which is more personal and intimate," says Li Zhixiang, director of the programing department, National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA), which will present The May Festival, featuring 15 chamber concerts played by musicians from 12 countries.

"While more Chinese today enjoy Western classical music, they started from the big symphony works presented by world-known orchestras that have toured the country. People lack knowledge of, and exposure to, chamber music. That's why we hold the annual chamber music festival," Li says.

Chinese percussionist Li Biao.

The celebrated German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter will begin the festival with a recital on May 2. She will play Debussy's Sonata in G Minor, Mendelssohn's Sonata in F Major, Mozart's Sonata in B Major and Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy.

After Mutter's recital will come a concert by four young European pianists and another by Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra. Chinese guitarist Yang Xuefei will play with the chamber orchestra from Barcelona's Liceu Opera on May 7.

The 33-year-old Yang is the first guitarist in China to enter China's Central Conservatory of Music, the first to study classical guitar in the West and the first to have an international professional career.

In August, she will make her debut at the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival.

"Usually guitar is a solo instrument and its sound is relatively low, which suits a small hall. But now more composers are writing guitar concertos. It's interesting to play with a small orchestra, the concerto offers more colorful timbre than a guitar solo," Yang says.

Meanwhile, on May 8, Chinese percussionist Li Biao will collaborate with two pianists, for an interesting exploration of the magic of music.

The dialogue between percussion and double keyboards is not the only collaboration of the festival. The Grammy Award-winning South Korean lyric soprano Sumi Jo will perform with the Academy of Ancient Music from Cambridge, the world's top period-instrument band; Chinese cellist Zhu Yibing will team up with an American pipe organ player; and four Chinese violinists - Lu Siqing (1987), Huang Bin (1994), Huang Mengla (2002) and Ning Feng (2005), all winners of the Paganini violin competition - will play together.

"Chamber music is not all new to the Chinese. In ancient times, many folk operas were played in family halls and pavilions," says the cellist Zhu.

A professor at the Central Conservatory of Music, Zhu and his students have formed a small cello orchestra and have been performing regularly for six years.

He remembers how when they once performed at Tsinghua University, the small hall was so crowded that he had to invite some of those in the audience to sit around the players on stage.

"The hall was full, leaving just enough room for the players to move the bows. We could even hear the breath of some members in the audience and see the looks of appreciation on their faces.

Other ensembles to look out for include Leipzig Chamber Orchestra, Trio Wanderer (piano, violin and cello) from the Paris Conservatory and French National Jazz Band. Some concerts will be held in NCPA's small theater.

Salzburg Chamber Orchestra.