HIGH-QUALITY, low-ticket classical, jazz, rock and modern music will fill the air for two weeks starting July 31, beckoning more than 20,000 music lovers.

The Music in the Summer Air (MISA) festival will feature 15 concerts by five orchestras, performances by two ensembles, two choirs and pianists Ivo Pogorelich and Li Yundi. Conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim will conduct the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in several Beethoven symphonies.

"MISA is supposed to provide a new environment for the residents to appreciate music, especially diversified classical music," says conductor Yu Long, who is also music director of MISA, "Shanghai is supposed to be a city where dream starts. Anything that may bring new air to the city is worth doing in my view. And MISA aims as bringing different classic music to Shanghai residents."

Performances will be held at Shanghai Culture Square and the Shanghai Oriental Art Center.

Last year more than 20,000 people attended the popular performances that were easily accessible because of tickets priced as low as 30 yuan (US$4.63) and relatively casual venues.

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Yu, will cooperate with cellist Qin Liwei in Gulda's Cello Concerto, containing elements of classical music, jazz and rock.

The orchestra will also cooperate with violinist Vera Tsu presenting tango master Piazolla's "The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires." Dutch musicians from Amsterdam will perform in concert with the orchestra.

One of the highlights will be the "Beethoven in the Summer Air" concerts by the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra conducted by Barenboim.

The youth orchestra based in Seville, Spain, is comprised of musicians from Israel and Muslim countries in the Middle East. The Shanghai performance is their Asian debut.

The program features Beethoven's "6th Symphony ("The Pastorale")" and "7th Symphony" on August 7 and Symphonies No. 1, 5 and 8 on August 8.

The orchestra was established in 1999 by Argentinian-Israeli Barenboim and Palestinian Edward Said (1935-2003), a voice for Palestinian rights. It has demonstrated over the years that people with different beliefs can listen to and communicate with each other.

Though music cannot help solve the conflicts, the successful performances by West-Eastern Divan Orchestra through the years at least proves that music can provide chances for people listen and speak to each other.

The Music in the Summer Air festival also provides a stage for talented amateurs in the "Mini Musicans" program. It is open to young musicians with or without training and performance experience. Applications can be made at www.sh-symphony.com/misa.

July 31, 7:30pm

Bank of Communications is proud to support Crazy Classical - 2011 MISA Opening Concert

Cello: Qin Liwei

Violin: Vera Tsu

Conductor: Yu Long

Performer: Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 60-580 yuan

August 1, 7:30pm

Summer Dreams of Cello & Guitar

Cello: Wang Jian

Guitar: Yang Xuefei

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 30-380 yuan

August 2, 7:30pm

Chamber Concert by Royal Phil Brass Quintet

Trumpet: Brian Thomson, Mike Allen

Horn: Laurence Davies

Trombone: Matthew Gee

Tuba: Kevin Morgan

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 30-380 yuan

August 3, 7:30pm

The Four Colors of the Piano Trio – Chamber Concert by "Canzone Trio"

Piano: Ka-Kit TAM

Violin: Fan Ting

Cello: Ray Wang

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 30-380 yuan

August 4, 7:30pm

Yundi with the Royal Philharmonic

Piano: Li Yundi

Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Charles Dutoit

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 60-580 yuan

August 5, 7:30pm

Dance! Dance! Dance!

- SSO with Jazz Musicians from Amsterdam

Guitar: Jesse van Ruller

Bass: Jeroen Vierdag

Drum: Martijn Vink

Performer: Jazz Musicians from Amsterdam, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Werner Herbers

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 60-580 yuan

August 6, 7:30pm

Original Classical – Dutoit Conducts the Royal Phil

Cello: Jian WANG

Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Charles Dutoit

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 60-580 yuan

August 7, 7:30pm

The KT Wong Foundation is proud to support Beethoven in the Summer Air (I) - Barenboim Conducts West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Performer: West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Conductor: Daniel Barenboim

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 60-580 yuan

August 8, 7:30pm

China Mobile is proud to support Concert by Shanghai Youth Philharmonic Orchestra

Performer: Shanghai Youth Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Cao Peng

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 30-380 yuan

August 8, 7:30pm

Beethoven in the Summer Air (II) - Barenboim Conducts West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Performer: West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Conductor: Daniel Barenboim

Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center

Tickets: 88-888 yuan

August 9, 7:30pm

Dances in the New World - The Royal Phil with the Shanghai Youth Phil

Soprano: Huang Ying

Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Shanghai Youth Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Charles Dutoit

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 60-580 yuan

August 10, 7:30pm

Authentic Romanticism - Piano Recital by Ivo Pogorelich

Piano: Ivo Pogorelich

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 60-580 yuan

August 11, 7:30pm

Bravo China - A Starry Night with MISA Musicians

Flute: Hu Zhe

Cello: Zhu Lin

Violin: Pei LI

Performer: Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Charles Dutoit

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Price: 60-580 yuan

August 12, 7:30pm

Love China - Commemorating the Centennial of Xinhai Revolution

Performer: Macau Youth Symphony Orchestra

Chorus: Chorus of the Music Education Department of the Central Conservatory of Music

Shanghai Yangjing High School Male's Choir

Conductor: Lin Daye

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 60-580 yuan

August 13, 7:30pm

2011 MISA Closing Concert – Song Zuying with Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

Folk Singer: Song Zuying

Guest Singer: Liao Changyong, Wei Song

Chorus: Shanghai Opera House Chorus

Performer: Shanghai Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Yu Long

Venue: Shanghai Culture Square

Tickets: 60-580 yuan

? Shanghai Culture Square

Address: 597 Fuxing Rd M.

? Shanghai Oriental Art Center

Address: 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong

Tel: 4008-210-522