The annual Beijing Music Festival (BMF), one of the capital's musical gems, will soon raise its curtain in October. The event's Artistic Director Yu Long revealed this year's schedule and lineup at a press conference held on Wednesday Morning. So what's in store?

Themed "Musical Legacy and Innovation", the 19th Beijing Music Festival will blaze new trails while reinterpreting the glorious heritage of classical music.

The lineup consists 30 performances ranging from opera, symphony, chamber music, vocal recital to cross over music.

The opening concert will be presented by the China NCPA Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of the internationally acclaimed maestro Lyu Jia. This will be the first collaboration between the BMF and NCPA.

For almost two decades, the festival has brought cutting-edge operatic productions to China. And this year's no exception, as the event will present the Chinese premiere of renowned composer Benjamin Britten's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". It's also a tribute to William Shakespeare as 2016 marks the 400th anniversary of the Bard of Avon's death.

"This musical recount of Shakespeare's masterpiece is one of the most successful operatic adaptations of the play and one of the most popular operas of the 20th century," said Yu Long, artistic director, Beijing Music Festival.

"This is the first time that it has been performed in China, and it's the starting point of the 5-year collaboration between the Beijing Music Festival and the Festival d'Aix en Provence."

The festival will also present Mozart's opera masterpiece Giovanni in an unprecedented way - by integrating an immersive theatrical experience with state-of-the-art visual effects.

And the event will also attempt artistic exploration with "Black Out", the 3D mini opera by Dutch composer Michel van der Aa.

Another highlight of the festival is the complete symphonic works of Tchaikovsky.

As in previous years, the festival will organize children's concerts, master class, lectures and weekend family activities.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and the Beijing Municipal Government, the Beijing Music Festival was launched in 1998. Now it has become one of the most significant and creative cultural events in the country.

"It's been 19 years since the Beijing Music Festival was launched. It's not easy. We've come a long way and there's still a long long way to go. So I'd like to say thanks to all the people who have supported us for so many years," Yu Long said.

Whether you are going after the biggest names in classical music, cutting-edge productions, or avant-garde theatrical events, this year's festival has it all.

The 19th Beijing Music Festival runs from October 9th to 29th.